The Gazprom headquarters hosted today a working meeting between Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Company's Management Committee and Milorad Dodik, President of Republika Srpska.

The meeting participants considered the prospects for arranging Russian natural gas supplies to the Republika and outlined the specific steps on building a gas branch from South Stream to Republika Srpska as well as promoting the cooperation in the power industry.

In addition, the parties resolved to elaborate a Roadmap to enable the subsequent signing of an international regulatory document with Republika Srpska together with Bosnia and Herzegovina. The document will govern the joint activities in the energy sector.

Background

With a view to diversify the natural gas export routes Gazprom is planning to construct a gas pipeline running under the Black Sea to the countries of Southern and Central Europe – the South Stream project.

Intergovernmental agreements have already been signed with Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, Greece, Slovenia and Croatia in order to implement the onshore gas pipeline section.

In September 2012 Gazprom and Republika Srpska signed the Memorandum of Understanding that fixed mutually beneficial partnership and cooperation between the parties. The Memorandum envisages possible construction of a gas branch from South Stream to Republika Srpska and gasification of the population centers along its route. The document also expressed the parties' interest in developing power generation projects, including the conversion of power plants in Republika Srpska to natural gas.