OREANDA-NEWS. September 08, 2009. Today the IV Far Eastern International Economic Forum has started in Khabarovsk under the motto “Development Strategy for Russian Far East: Anti-Crisis Guidelines and New Approaches”.

Gazprom’s delegation under the leadership of Alexander Ananenkov, Deputy Chairman of Gazprom Management Committee is taking part in the Forum.

Addressing the Forum participants, Alexander Ananenkov reported on Gazprom’s key guidelines in Eastern Russia.

The Far East is a strategically important region for Gazprom’s activities. In particular, it was emphasized that Gazprom’s activities in the Far East were oriented at prioritized meeting of Russian consumers’ demand, thus creating a favorable environment for sustainable economic growth.

So far, Gazprom is implementing the paramount projects of the Eastern Gas Program and continues raising investments in its eastern projects despite the global economic crisis. “This is reflected in Gazprom’s investment program, which stipulates allocation of RUB 67 billion in 2009 for the projects in Eastern Russia. In 2010 the amount of financing will reach RUB 100 billion,” stated Alexander Ananenkov.

In 2009 pursuant to the assignment by the Russian Federation Government, Gazprom has set to constructing the Sakhalin – Khabarovsk – Vladivostok gas transmission system, the project for gas supply to Kamchatka is progressing rapidly, geological exploration has been initiated offshore Sakhalin and preconstruction activities for gas chemical and helium facilities are underway in Yakutia. The first Russian LNG plant has been commissioned as part of the Sakhalin II project this year. The project development will depend on the geological exploration in the licensed areas.

Execution of Gazprom’s major infrastructure projects will additionally stimulate the growth of industrial and energy sectors in the region as well as population centers gasification. Alexander Ananenkov believes that Gazprom’s orders will make it possible to exploit the potential of the local contractors and create favorable conditions for upgrading the shipbuilding machine building industries, production of wellhead equipment and check valves, as well as engineering equipment. There will be a unique opportunity to arrange in the Far East the construction of LNG and CNG carriers, supply vessels, including in cooperation with foreign manufacturers.

Speaking of the high socio-economic importance of the Eastern Gas Program, Alexander Ananenkov proposed a wider usage of state support measures for eastern projects. They included streamlining the federal legislation, elaboration of the state program for rational utilization of helium, development of gas, heat and electric power pricing techniques with due regard to the Far Eastern characteristic features and acceptability for potential gas consumers and producers. In addition, it is necessary to provide state support to the companies wishing to manufacture state-of-the-art technological equipment for the oil and gas industry, as well as for transportation infrastructure creation.