OREANDA-NEWS. February 6, 2009. At the Gazprom Headquarters Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee and Valery Serdukov, Governor of the Leningrad Oblast signed an Agreement of Cooperation between Gazprom and the Leningrad Oblast Government for 2009.

Pursuant to the Agreement the parties will continue comprehensive development of the Leningrad Oblast gas supply system with due regard of the Nord Stream gas trunkline project.

Gazprom and the Leningrad Oblast Government will cooperate in securing efficient gas utilization in the household sector by the systematic reconstruction and upgrading of thermal energy equipment. The parties will also unite their efforts in creating comprehensive energy supply systems for industrial consumers based on the utilization of up-to-date gas saving technologies and equipment.

The Government of the Leningrad Oblast will ensure a full payment of the current gas supplies to budget consumers, consumers’ readiness to receive gas in line with the synchronized gasification facilities construction schedule for 2009-2010 signed including gas metering equipment installation. The Government will establish economically sound gas consumption rates for consumers who do not have gas metering equipment.

The Government will develop and approve the schedule of switching to backup fuel supply for the Leningrad Oblast organizations during cold snaps and its implementation order.

Within the scope of its competence the Oblast Government will adopt a number of regional legislative acts targeted at regulating and promoting utilization of natural gas as motor fuel. Gazprom and its subsidiaries will be assisted in right-of-way related issues resolving.

In 2009 Gazprom, in its turn, will provide uninterrupted gas supply to the Leningrad Oblast consumers. The Company will earmark in a draft Gasification Program for the Russian Federation Regions for 2009 the financial resources for the construction end-up of formerly launched and start-up of new gasification facilities construction in the Leningrad Oblast with due regard of the regional Government proposals. Gazprom will also allocate funds to perform design & exploration works and project review for constructing gas laterals to a number of population centers including the towns of Primorsk and Priozersk.

Additionally, in 2009 Gazprom will provide funds for implementing thermal energy investment projects in the Leningrad Oblast.

Gazprom will participate in investment projects and programs in the region provided investments pay off and rates of return meet the intra-corporate standards.