OREANDA-NEWS. October 22, 2012. Gazpromneft Aero , Gazprom Neft's aviation fueling businessoperator, has begun fueling military aircraft at 11 more Russian Air Force bases. In 2013, the company plans to provideover 40 VOLVO-based modern fueling trucks, which comply with international jet fuelling standardsand have an all-weather capability. Moreover, eight fuel test labs will be built.

The Russian Government approved Gazpromneft Aero as the aviation fuel supplier for 12 air bases belonging to the Ministry of Defensein 2011. In the summer of 2012, 23 more bases were added to the list. Gazpromneft Aero employees are responsible for fuel handling and storage, fuel conditioning and wing-tip fueling operations. A lab monitors fuel quality before each fueling.

Gazpromneft Aero's total investment in modernizing the aviation fueling infrastructure at the AF bases already exceeds 1 billion rubles. Since 2011, the company has constructed 9 lab facilities at military airfields to test fuel quality and brought 43 modern fueling trucks into operation.

"Continuing to develop the aviation fueling business, expanding our geographic reach in this market, and growing the volume of wing-tip fueling -- these are the strategic objectives facing the company. The modernization of the airports' aviation fueling infrastructure and the quality control on the delivered product are helping us expand our partnership with the Russian Air Force by facilitating fuel sales to the end users," said Levan Kadagidze, head of Gazprom Neft's Commercial Directorate.

"The trust air force pilots show us, places a great responsibility on our shoulders, and once again confirms Gazpromneft Aero's leadership in the Russian market for aviation fuel. We will continue to create new fueling facilities that comply with international standards for aviation fueling at Ministry of Defense bases", said Vladimir Yegorov, Gazpromneft Aero's CEO.