The meeting with administration leaders of 15 republics, regions and oblasts of the Russian Federation was held today at Gazprom headquarters. The issues of cooperation development between the company and the regions were discussed.

Alexander Ryazanov, Gazprom Management Committee Deputy Chairman, Viktor Ilyushin, Member of Gazprom Management Committee, Head of the Department of Relationships with Regional Authorities of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Podmarkov, First Deputy Head of the Central Production and Dispatching Department, Nikolai Isakov, Deputy General Director of Mezhregiongaz took part in the meeting.

Issues of future development of the gas industry in the regions of the Russian Federation, gas supply optimization, Regional gasification program implementation, payment discipline regarding gas already supplied were discussed at the meeting.

Alexander Ryazanov expressed his appreciation of the role several regions played in preparation of Gazprom's main perspective projects. These include Yamal peninsula, Eastern Siberia and the Russian Far East gas fields' development, as well as the construction of the North European gas pipeline.

The meeting's participants visited Gazprom's key production unit - the Central production and Dispatching Department.

The meeting's final phase is a joint trip of Gazprom's top managers and regional administration representatives to Yamburggazdobicha and Nadimgazprom production facilities located in the Yamalo-Nenetsk Autonomous Region planned for March 10-12, 2005.

Reference:

As of 1 March 2005, Gazprom signed Cooperation Agreements with 71 administrative regions of the Russian Federation. Currently three more Cooperation Agreements are being prepared to be signed.

Gazprom is currently supplying natural gas to 66 regions in Russia.

In 2004, Gazprom supplied 289.7 billion cubic meters of natural gas to domestic consumers. 97.5% of the supplies were paid for in full. Domestic consumers still owe Gazprom RUR 34.37 billion for the gas supplied. The main part of the amount (53.43%) is owed by individual consumers, 15.13% - by utilities, and 4.93% by state budget organizations.

DIVISION OF RELATIONS WITH MASS MEDIA