OREANDA-NEWS. The Gazprom headquarters hosted today a working meeting between Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Company’s Management Committee and Vladimir Semashko, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus.

The parties addressed a wide range of issues concerning the bilateral cooperation. It was highlighted that Gazprom was providing reliable gas supplies to Belarusian consumers in the requested amounts: over 13 billion cubic meters of gas was supplied from January to September 2015. Smooth transit of Russian gas is underway across the Republic to the Kaliningrad Region, within and beyond the CIS countries. Over the nine months of 2015 it has exceeded 33 billion cubic meters of gas.

The parties paid special attention to the preparations for the autumn/winter period of 2015 – 2016. Ramp-up of the UGS capacity in Belarus is among the key objectives of this activity. By the start of the withdrawal season their potential maximum daily deliverability will be increased by 9.7 per cent – up to 34 million cubic meters, while the operating gas reserve will be 1.07 billion cubic meters.

The meeting looked into the status of the Roadmap for the project titled ‘Wider Use of Belarusian High-Tech Products and Technologies for Gazprom’. At present, the enterprises that can supply the Company with import substituting equipment are being audited. As was noted, in the three quarters of 2015 Gazprom had purchased material and equipment worth over RUB 320 million from Belarusian producers, thus surpassing the 2014 indicator.

The joint efforts aimed at developing the Belarusian NGV market have great potential. 27 CNG filling stations are already operational in the country; five are under construction now. Gazprom plans to open another 15 CNG stations by late 2020. A project is being developed to construct a small-scale LNG plant that would make it possible to use liquefied natural gas as a fuel in cars and railway vehicles.

The parties discussed the construction of the Gazprom Center multi-purpose complex. Works are progressing according to schedule and will be completed in 2018. The footings of the main office building and the hotel with a congress center are being laid now.

The meeting noted Gazprom’s significant contribution to social projects implemented across Belarus. In particular, Gazprom Transgaz Belarus (subsidiary of Gazprom) backed up national health care programs called ‘Improved Medical Care for Children with Cancer’ and ‘Help to Children with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis’.

Sports facilities will open their doors in Mozyr and Orsha (Belarus) in 2015 under the Gazprom for Children program. Phase one of the construction of a sports and leisure center with a swimming pool in Osipovichi will be completed next year.