The Gazprom headquarters hosted today a working meeting between Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Company’s Management Committee and Dmitry Zelenin, Governor of the Tver Oblast.

The parties discussed the progress with the Cooperation Agreement and the Gasification Accord signed between Gazprom and the Tver Oblast. In particular, the meeting addressed the prospects for constructing the Rzhev – Nelidovo gas pipeline and for retrofitting the gas distribution station in the city of Bezhetsk, as well as the potential acquisition by Gazprom of the gasification facilities from the Tver Oblast Administration.

During the meeting the parties pointed out the necessity of enhancing the payment discipline among regional consumers.

Background:

The Cooperation Agreement was entered into by the Tver Oblast Administration and Gazprom in January 2002 for an indefinite period of time, the Gasification Accord – in December 2004.

The average level of natural gas penetration in the Tver Oblast amounts to 54.7 per cent including 72.4 per cent in cities and towns, and 19.7 per cent in the rural area. The identical figures throughout Russia average 63.2, 67.5 and 45.5 per cent respectively.

In 2009 RUB 300 million was earmarked by Gazprom for the Tver Oblast gasification.

In 2010 the Company will invest RUB 226 million to accomplish construction of three inter-settlement gas pipelines with the total length of 52.4 kilometers. In its turn, the Oblast Administration will arrange consumer preparation to receive gas in 649 apartments and commission 3 gas fired boiler houses.

In January–April 2010 the Tver Oblast consumers’ debt for delivered gas grew by RUB 954.9 million to  some RUB 1.2 billion in total as of May 1, 2010. The bulk of debt was incurred by power generating, housing and utility companies, and population.