OREANDA-NEWS. November 28, 2008. Gazprom’s Regional Policy Commission convened on its regular meeting moderated by Valery Golubev, Head of the Commission, Deputy Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee.

The Commission members considered the progress in implementing the Gasification Program for the Russian Federation constituents.

It was noted that the implementation of the Gasification Program for the RF constituents in 2005-2007 had not only enabled to enhance the gasification level in Russia, but also showed the necessity of continuing active efforts in this field. In 2008 Gazprom was planning to invest circa RUB 23.05 bln in the gasification of the Russian regions. Based on the intermediate results a decision was taken to increase the amount of investments to RUB 24.18 bln. The large-scale Russian Regions Gasification Program is a long-term project aimed at achieving the level of gasification throughout Russia that will ensure maximum economic viability.

The meeting participants identified the major challenges Gazprom was facing during the Program implementation, such as the fact that the heads of some RF constituents had not performed the obligations having been undertaken in relation to the preparation of consumers for gas supply. Such constituents primarily include Volgograd, Lipetsk, Ryazan and Samara Oblasts, as well as the Komi Republic. In addition, the meeting addressed the necessity of streamlining the cooperation with local authorities in registering land plots for the gasification facilities construction.

Core business units of Gazprom were tasked with continuing work with the administrative authorities of the RF constituents in order to successfully implement the Gasification Program in 2009, as well as to develop a proposal for the improvement of the Gazprom’s Concept for participation in the RF regions gasification and submit the proposal to the management of the Company for consideration. Special attention has to be paid to detailed elaboration of the General Gasification Schemes for the constituents in East Siberia and the Far East to pursue the Gazprom’s strategic goal of ensuring gas supply to these regions.