Gas Distribution and Gasification
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Gasification of Russian regions |
Gazprom occupies the leading position in gas distribution of low pressure grids in the Russian Federation. Gazprom possesses controlling stock and market share in 148 regional gas distribution organizations and three companies engaged to service gas distribution systems (OAO Gazpromregiongas, OAO Zapsibgazprom, OOO Tattransgas). These organizations service 463.4 thousand km (75 per cent) of Russia’s gas distribution grids and supply gas to 75 per cent of gasified settlements. Annual volume of gas transmission to the Russian end consumers exceeds 200 bcm.
Consolidation of assets in gas distribution is carried out in the framework of inner structure optimization. Assets are transferred to OAO Gazpromregiongas participating in Gazprom Group. These assets consolidation provides prerequisites to unify tariff policy, form investment sources for gasification of the Russian regions as well as to create conditions for liberalization of gas domestic market due to equal access to consumers of all gas producers.
Gasification of Russia’s regions is one of the Gazprom’s targets. The program is worked out to gasify regions of Russia in 2005-2007, which has state support as the social project of national significance. The program envisages lying more than 13 thousand km of distribution gas pipelines for three years. Investment volume will amount to RUR 43 billion constituting RUR 5.2 bln in 2005, RUR 17.6 bln in 2006. It is planned to assign RUR 20.2 bln in 2007. Additionally, RUR 1.1 bln were only directed to reconstruct and technically reequip operating distribution gas pipelines in 2006.
Gasification projects will be accomplished based on the principles of the Gazprom Concept for participation in gasification of the Russian Federation regions approved in August 2003 envisaging:
Established system of cooperation with the Russian Federation entities in the framework of the Gazprom regional policy enables to solve production, financial, social and organizational issues with local administrations.
Provision of Gazprom and the Russian Federation entities balanced interests as well as coordination of Gazprom regional affiliate companies is this policy main task. It is attained by strengthening the standard and legal foundation based on cooperation agreements with the Russian Federation entities. As of March 1, 2007, Gazprom has concluded the Agreement of cooperation with 76 regions of the Russian Federation. At present the preparation work is underway to sign Agreements of cooperation with other three regions of the Russian Federation.
The Gazprom Commission for regional policy coordinates the Gazprom core business units as well as its affiliated companies in the Russian Federation regions.