The Gazprom headquarters hosted today a working meeting between Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Company's Management Committee and Sergey Antufiev, Governor of the Smolensk Oblast.

The parties addressed the regional gasification issues highlighting that between 2003 and 2011 Gazprom had allocated around RUB 1.3 billion for these purposes. As a result, the regional gasification level rose by 12.1 per cent to 70.5 per cent, while the identical figure throughout Russia averaged 63.1 per cent.

The meeting discussed the prospects for further gasification of the Smolensk Oblast that would cover, in particular, the Velizh and Ugra Districts currently devoid of natural gas. Special attention was paid to the construction of a gas lateral to the Nikitino village as well as other gasification facilities in the Velizh District. Besides, it was resolved that the Smolensk Oblast Administration would elaborate and submit for consideration by Gazprom the investment rationale for the Ugra District gasification.

Background

The open-ended Agreement of Cooperation between Gazprom and the Smolensk Oblast Administration was signed in May 2004.

Between 2010 and 2011 Gazprom allocated RUB 350 million to complete the construction of the 40.7 kilometer inter-settlement gas pipeline to the Yekimovichi settlement and to design the 27.2 kilometer inter-settlement gas pipeline to the Akatovo and Shapkino villages. In 2012 Gazprom is going to commit RUB 10 million for the completion of the said gas pipeline as well as the 10.9 kilometer inter-settlement gas pipeline to the Knyazhoye village.

Between 2007 and 2011 the Smolensk Oblast received around RUB 30 million under the Gazprom to Children program including for the construction of three sports grounds and a football field with artificial turf.