Today Irkutsk hosted a working meeting between Alexander Ananenkov, Deputy Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee and Dmitry Mezentsev, Governor of the Irkutsk Oblast.

The parties discussed the progress with the gas supply to and gasification of the Irkutsk Oblast, as well as preparation for the celebrations dedicated to the 350th anniversary of the city of Irkutsk.

Special attention was paid to shaping a gas market along the route of the Chikanskoye gas and condensate field (GCF) – Sayansk – Irkutsk gas pipeline being designed. It was noted that to ensure the return of investments in the Chikanskoye GCF and the gas pipeline construction the gas consumption structure in the Irkutsk Oblast should rely on the following priorities list: gas chemistry and processing, heat and power generation, simultaneous gasification of the industrial and the household sectors.

Alexander Ananenkov and Dmitry Mezentsev looked at the issues related to shaping the balance between gas production and consumption by customers including the potential ones located along the Chikanskoye GCF – Sayansk – Irkutsk gas pipeline route. The production balance will be coordinated with the Chikanskoye field development plan.

Additional attention will be paid to the synchronization of the Bratsk GCF development and gas supply facilities in Bratsk and the Bratsk District including gas consumers on the left bank of the Angara River.

It was emphasized that large-scale plans on regional gasification could only be implemented through effective interaction between Gazprom and the Irkutsk Oblast Administration.

Background:

Gazprom and the Irkutsk Oblast Administration signed the Agreement on Cooperation in February 2004 and the Accord on Gasification in December 2009.

The General Scheme for gas supply to and gasification of the Irkutsk Oblast was approved by the Directive of the Irkutsk Oblast Administration in 2005. Due to the approval of the Development Program for an integrated gas production, transportation and supply system in Eastern Siberia and the Far East, taking into account potential gas exports to China and other Asia-Pacific countries (Eastern Gas Program) by the Russian Industry and Energy Ministry Order of September 2007, the General Scheme had to be updated.

In December 2009 the General Scheme for gas supply to and gasification of the Irkutsk Oblast was updated. It stipulated creation of the Irkutsk gas production center provided for in the Eastern Gas Program. For instance, the regional fuel and energy balance structure was optimized, the Oblast’s gas demand was re-estimated and the hydrocarbons production strategy was adjusted. The new document adjusted the scheme for gas trunklines development and the gasification schemes for the Irkutsk Oblast regions. Moreover, the scenarios for developing the existing processing facilities and creating the new ones were optimized.

In December 2007 the first phase of the Bratsk GCF – Bratsk (45th residential district) gas trunkline was constructed and natural gas deliveries to the city commenced. Bratsk was the first population center of the Irkutsk Oblast to receive pipeline gas. The total length of the first-phase section is 26.6 kilometers. Upon construction of the Bratsk GCF – Bratsk gas trunkline, its total length will amount to nearly 70 kilometers.

In 2008 Gazprom brought the Chikanskoye gas and condensate field into pilot operation. The field is the major resource base for the central and southern regions of the Oblast.

Between 2007 and 2009 Gazprom allotted RUB 595 million to gasify the Irkutsk Oblast. These funds were used to build two inter-settlement gas pipelines (the Osinovka gas distribution station – the settlement of Zyaba and the Osinovka gas distribution station – the settlement of Gidrostroitel. In 2010 Gazprom will invest another RUB 50 million in the regional gasification. These funds will be used to construct another two inter-settlement gas pipelines.

The celebrations dedicated to the 350th anniversary of Irkutsk will take place in September 2011. Gazprom is on the committee responsible for the event preparation.