1997
In January, Gazprom and Neste signed a Protocol to set up a joint venture for the North European gas pipeline construction.
In February, Gazprom approved the Conception of Sci-tech Policy of the Company till 2015. The Conception stipulates the prospects of sci-tech progress, new equipment and technology development, science potential development, personnel support, conversion, the role of international sci-tech cooperation as well as management principles for sci-tech development.
On April 28, a Presidential Decree was issued. According to the Decree, Gazprom experienced restructuring stipulating creation of favorable conditions to provide industry self-financing and develop flexible state regulation aimed at providing reliable gas supply.
On June 28, the Gazprom Headquarters hosted the Gazprom Annual Shareholders’ Meeting. The meeting approved a new Company’s Board of Directors consisting of 11 members. The meeting discussed the mechanism improvement for the state participation in the Company’s activity, a program of Russian natural gas market development and gas export strategy.
In September, a big contract for exploration of several areas of the South Pars field in the Persian Gulf was signed. Among Gazprom, Total (France) and Petronas (Malaysia) will participate in the project.
In November, Gazprom and the Royal Dutch/Shell Group signed a Strategic Alliance Agreement.
In December, an Intergovernmental Agreement on Russian gas supplies to Turkey via the gas pipeline laid on the Black Sea bed was signed. It was a start-up point for the Blue Stream gas pipeline international project.
End of December, Bonn (Germany) hosted the Constituent Assembly of the European Business Congress being an international non-governmental and non-profit organization. The Congress united several tens of the largest companies and banks of the OSCE Region in the aim of contributing to economic cooperation of country-members of OSCE; economic development of the European region; creating conditions for a dialog of politicians and businessmen. Rem Vyakhirev, Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee was elected to the post of President of EBC.