The Volgograd region has hosted today a solemn ceremony dedicated to the commissioning of the Kotelnikovskaya and Olkhovskaya compressor stations at the Pochinki – Izobilnoye – North Stavropol UGS gas trunk line.

The ceremony was attended by Bogdan Budzulyak, Member to Gazprom’s Management Committee and Head of Gazprom’s Gas Transportation, Underground Storage and Utilization Department, Valery Golubev, Member to Gazprom’s Management Committee, Head of Gazprom’s Investment & Construction Department and Director General of Gazkomlektimpex, Lev Alfyorov, Vice Governor of the Volgograd region, Gasan Nabiyev, Director General of Volgogradtransgaz, Delegates to the RF State Duma and representatives of Volgogradtransgaz and contracting organizations.

Bringing on-line Kotelnikovskaya and Olkhovskaya boosts the annual pipeline throughput from 12 to 16 bcm of gas and, consequently, sets the stage for increasing the capacity of the Blue Stream gas line and intensifying gas consumption in the Volgograd region.

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Totaling 318.7 km in length and 1,420 mm in diameter, the Pochinki – Izobilnoye – North Stavropol UGS gas pipeline carries gas to Russia’s South Federal District and the Blue Stream gas line.

In addition to Kotelnikovskaya and Olkhovskaya, the 80 Mw Volgogradskaya compressor station is operational at the pipeline and the Zhirnovskaya station is slated for commissioning in the 4th quarter of 2005.

Kotelnikovskaya and Olkhovskaya count on five 80 Mw (each) gas pumping units produced by the Sumy Machine-Building Scientific Production Association named after Frunze (Ukraine).

Brought into operation in February 2003, the Blue Stream gas line is intended to supply Russian natural gas to Turkey under the Black Sea, without third-party involvement. Total length of onshore and offshore sections accounts for 1,213 km. This year, Blue Stream is scheduled to pipe 6 bcm of gas, with 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 bcm to be channeled in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively.

DIVISION OF RELATIONS WITH MASS MEDIA