Led by Alexander Ananenkov, Deputy Chairman of Gazprom Management Committee, a Gazprom delegation started a business trip to Saint Petersburg.

The delegation is comprised of Oleg Aksyutin, Member of the Management Committee – Head of the Gas Transportation, Underground Storage and Utilization Department, Yaroslav Golko, Member of the Management Committee – Head of the Investment and Construction Department, Vasily Podyuk, Member of the Management Committee – Head of the Gas, Gas Condensate and Oil Production Department, as well as heads and specialists from Gazprom specialized subdivisions – Gazprom VNIIGAZ, Giprospetsgaz, VNIPIgazdobycha, Gazprom transgaz Saint Petersburg, Gazprom transgaz Ukhta, Gazprom transgaz Tchaikovsky, Gazprom invest Zapad, Gazprom export, Gazflot, Gazprom dobycha shelf, Shtokman Development AG etc.

Today the delegation took part in the meeting dedicated to the technical estimation and potential utilization of Ladoga gas pumping facility (GPF-32) when performing strategic gas transmission projects of Gazprom and upgrading the gas transmission system (GTS). Held at the Roselectroprom Holding premises, the meeting was moderated by Alexander Ananenkov and brought together heads and experts from largest machine-building enterprises of Russia and Saint Petersburg, namely, Electropult Plant, Nevsky Plant, Iskra Science and Production Association, Iskra-Aviagaz, Sistema-Servis, United Industrial Corporation, Severnoye Machine-Building Enterprise (Sevmash) Production Association and other Russian machine-building enterprises producing GPF and gas-turbine units.

The meeting participants addressed the key technical and engineering specifications of Ladoga GPF-32 in comparison to the similar home-made equipment as well as manufacture opportunities. Special attention was paid to GPF utilization prospects when implementing large gas transmission projects of Gazprom. It was noted that Ladoga GPF-32 performance allowed its wide utilization in strategic gas transmission projects in the years to come, in particular, when constructing the Bovanenkovo – Ukhta gas trunkline system.

Summarizing the meeting results, Alexander Ananenkov reminded that Gazprom, as a largest Russian investor, was oriented at the domestic producer in its strategic projects, gas transmission projects inclusive.

“In the crisis environment this will enable Russian machine-builders not only to survive, but to upgrade production, establish the turn-out of competitive products that could meet all Gazprom’s requirements and be popular on the global market. Gas pumping facilities are a crucial part of GTS; therefore, Gazprom places heavy demands on their quality. These demands cover, first of all, the quality coefficient, reliability and endurance of the facilities. Low emission rates and repair convenience are also significant. Ladoga GPF-32 developed by Roselectroprom Holding meets all these requirements. Therefore, we have thoroughly addressed the issues of production arrangement and utilization prospects for these facilities at Gazprom GTS,” said A. Ananenkov.

Based on the meeting results the assignments were given aimed at specifying Gazprom’s demand for Ladoga GPA-32, further improving its technical specifications and applying the practices of Roselectroprom Holding at other national machine-building enterprises, which supply their products to Gazprom.

Background:

Gas transmission is the most capital and energy intensive sector of Gazprom’s business due to a considerable capacity and length of the gas transmission system (GTS).

As of March 31, 2009, over 4,000 GPF with a total capacity exceeding 47,500 MW are being operated at 281 existing compressor stations (in-field booster compressor stations and UGS compressor stations inclusive) of Gazprom’s GTS. Under the Comprehensive Program for the reconstruction and technical re-equipment of gas transmission facilities over 2007 to 2010, Gazprom is going to upgrade or replace over 500 GPF.

Over fifteen years Gazprom has actively cooperated with national research institutes and machine-building companies and invested in joint activities and R&D to develop state-of-the-art gas pumping equipment. These efforts enabled the Company not only to satisfy its needs in the said equipment, but also to support the development of prominent science and production organizations during the period of economic reforms.

Ladoga GPF-32 with 32 MW in capacity is produced at Roselectroprom enterprises. The facility is distinguished among other home-made fixed GPFs by a high efficiency (36 per cent), low emissions and a considerable lifecycle. The first two GPFs are to be delivered to Gazprom’s gas transmission companies in the fourth quarter of 2009.

Roselectroprom Holding is a machine-building association focused, inter alia, on design & experimental activities and rendering of services. The association comprises such big branches as Nevsky Plant and Electropult Plant.