OREANDA-NEWS. SOGAZ Insurance Group signed new contracts for 2015 with Gazprom Space Systems OJSC for insurance of satellites of Yamal-202, Yamal-300K, Yamal-402 operating in orbit.

SOGAZ provides insurance coverage for satellites belonging to Gazprom Space Systems during their operation in orbit. Insurance contracts cover the risks of full and partial loss of spacecrafts caused by a breakdown of the onboard systems. The total insured amount exceeds €450 mln. The insurance term is one year.

Yamal 202 geostationary communications satellite was launched in November 2003. The satellite has a semi-global coverage area (Europe, Middle East, North Africa, South and South-East Asia), which is home to more than 3 billion people.

Yamal-300K is a geostationary communications satellite of a middle size, it was launched in November 2012. It ensures rendering of all kinds of modern communication services in Russia and the CIS countries in the C- and Ku- frequency range. Launch of a spacecraft and its subsequent operation in orbit were previously insured in SOGAZ OJSC.

Yamal-402 is a geostationary communications satellite of a big size, it was launched in December 2012. It ensures rendering of all kinds of modern communication services in Russia, the CIS countries, Western and Central Europe, Middle East and Africa in the Ku- frequency range. Launch of a spacecraft and its operation in orbit were previously insured by SOGAZ OJSC. The satellite was injected into a geosynchronous transfer orbit with parameters different from those estimated because of the abnormal operation of the engine unit of the upper-stage rocket. Therefore, the spacecraft was placed into a nominal orbit due to the use of spacecraft possibilities and needed additional manoeuvres and additional actuations of the satellite's engine unit. According to the opinion of experts, the operational term of Yamal 402 decreased from 15 to 11.453 years because of extra fuel consumption. Consequently, SOGAZ reimbursed Gazprom Space Systems for damage in the amount of €73.09 mln.

Since 1999 (and since 2012 - on a competitive basis), SOGAZ insures launches and in-orbit operation of satellites of Gazprom Space Systems OJSC within the projects of Yamal-100 and Yamal-200 and insures against ground risks, i.e. a set of work in transportation, testing and prelaunch preparation of satellites for the projects of Yamal-100, Yamal-200 and Yamal-300. In 2000, on a tight schedule SOGAZ made a payment of USD 50.5 million that was the largest in the history of the Russian insurance market at that time for damage resulting from loss of Yamal-101 satellite during the launching process.

SOGAZ is one of the leaders in the market of space risk insurance in Russia having a 16-year experience in insurance of space objects, from their production to in-orbit operation. SOGAZ as an insurer of property and civil liability takes part in some programs of Roscosmos and other participants of the space industry of Russia.

Gazprom Space Systems OJSC was established in 1992 (it was called Gazcom OJSC till 1 December 2008). The company has established and operates Yamal system of satellite communication and broadcasting consisting of three satellites, a ground control complex, a developed ground telecommunications infrastructure. Currently, the company is an international operator presenting the possibilities of Yamal series satellites not only in Russia, but also in a significant part of the Eastern hemisphere.