Led by Alexander Ananenkov, Deputy Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee, the Company’s experts started their business trip to Far Eastern regions.

Previously, a group of experts had visited construction facilities of the Sobolevo – Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky gas trunkline, as well as pre-development and drilling facilities of the Kshukskoye and Nizhne-Kvakchikskoye fields.

Today in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Alexander Ananenkov held a meeting on the implementation of the Gas Supply to the Kamchatka Oblast, Phase 1 – Gas Supply to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky investment project and development of the Zapadno-Kamchatsky block.

Taking part in the meeting were Sergey Pakhomov, Deputy Chairman of the Kamchatka Krai Government, heads and experts from Gazprom’s specialized subdivisions, subsidiaries and contracting companies.

Alexander Ananenkov emphasized that timely implementation of the investment project for gas supply to the Kamchatka Krai was of great socio-economic significance.

It was noted that the project was carried out in compliance with the schedule. So far, out of the required 392 kilometers of the Sobolevo – Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky pipeline’s linear part, 364 kilometers have been constructed. Pre-development of the Kshukskoye and Nizhne-Kvakchikskoye fields is underway, production drilling has been completed. In parallel with gas supply and gasification facilities construction, the regional consumers are getting ready for gas supplies.

Execution of the investment project for gas supply to the Kamchatka Oblast is nearing completion. In this respect, the decision has been taken to reinforce the construction monitoring for the facilities that are directly responsible for gas supply within the prescribed timeframe. The task force set up by Gazprom for gas projects delivery in Kamchatka was made responsible for monitoring.

Gazprom is consecutively expanding its resource base for the purpose of meeting the Kamchatka Krai’s demand for natural gas over a long period. In 2010 the Company is going to launch geological exploration in the Zapadno-Kamchatsky block located offshore the Sea of Okhotsk. As soon as in 2011 Gazprom will drill two exploratory wells in the block that will lay the foundation for hydrocarbons deposits discovery and reserves estimation.

Based on the meeting results, Gazprom’s specialized subdivisions and subsidiaries were entrusted with the tasks aimed at timely implementation of the projects for arranging gas supply and at expansion of gas production and transportation capacities on the Kamchatka Peninsula.