OREANDA-NEWS. April 14, 2009. Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee paid a working visit to the Republic of Bashkortostan.

As part of the visit Alexey Miller met with Murtaza Rakhimov, President of the Republic of Bashkortostan. The parties discussed the progress with the Cooperation Agreement paying particular attention to supplies of the equipment produced in Bashkiria for the needs of Gazprom and its subsidiaries, as well as to the partnership targeted at the socioeconomic development of the Republic.

Alexey Miller and Murtaza Rakhimov inaugurated a visbreaking unit at the Salavatnefteorgsintez refinery. The unit is intended to produce marketable fuel oil from black oils without utilization of light oils.

During the event Alexey Miller pointed out that Salavatnefteorgsintez was Russia’s largest complex combining a full hydrocarbon feedstock processing cycle with the recovery of a broad spectrum of globally demanded products (gasoline, diesel fuel, mineral fertilizers, ethylene) at a single site. By launching the visbreaking unit Salavatnefteorgsintez refinery will raise monthly production of diesel fuel by 10-15 thousand tons.

“Modernization of such enterprises through advanced and environmentally-friendly technologies and an increase in the high value-added products output will substantially promote the competitiveness of Gazprom as a global energy company,” said Alexey Miller.

Alexey Miller also visited the ceremonial opening of the Golden Fish swimming pool built in line with the Gazprom to Children program in the town of Salavat. The swimming pool may be attended by over 500 visitors a day.

In addition, Gazprom’s Management Committee Chairman Alexey Miller and Bashkirian President Murtaza Rakhimov visited Salavat’s GDS-4 gas distribution station owned by Gazprom transgaz Ufa.