OREANDA-NEWS. On March 22, 2007 the Headquarters of Gazprom hosted a meeting focused on issues in relation to deeper cooperation between Gazprom and Russian regions, and involving the executive power leaders from 18 Republics, Krais and Oblasts of the Russian Federation, reported the press-centre of  Gazprom.

Attending the meeting were Valery Golubev, Deputy Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee and Viktor Ilyushin, Member of the Gazprom Management Committee, Head of the Department of Relationships with the Russian Federation Regions. The meeting participants discussed the development prospects for the Russian Federation gas industry, the progress with the Gasification Program for Russian Regions over 2005 to 2007 as well as matters with regard to optimizing the gas supply structure and improving the gas payment discipline. The executive power representatives also visited a key production unit of Gazprom - the Central Gas Flow Dispatching Department.

At the last stage of the meeting, on March 22-24, the Gazprom top managers and Russian Federation executive power representatives are to visit gas production regions. The meeting participants will visit production facilities of Yamburggazdobycha and Urengoygazprom, social and cultural facilities constructed by Gazprom in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, and settlements of the Far North’s native population. Reference: As at March 1, 2007, Gazprom has entered into cooperation agreements with 76 Russian Federation regions. At present, the preparatory work is underway to ink cooperation agreements with a further 3 Russian Federation constituents.  Nowadays, Gazprom is supplying gas to 64 Russian regions. The payment level of gas deliveries in 2006 accounts for 98 per cent. As at January 1, 2007, the debt of Russian Federation consumers to Gazprom for the delivered gas has totaled RUR 27,7 bln, with the bulk owed by the residential sector.