Today in Irkutsk Gazprom presented its General layout of gas supply and gasification of Irkutskaya oblast. Alexander Tishanin, Governor of Irkuskaya oblast, Alexander Ananenkov, Deputy Chairman, Gazprom Management Committee, State Duma deputies and members of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Gazprom and its affiliates’ representatives, representatives of the administration and Legislative council of Irkutskaya oblast, scientific, research and design organizations, and the largest regional companies’ representatives attended the meeting.

The General layout developed by Promgaz based on detailed scientific analysis of the economy of Siberia and the prospects of development of its energy industry stipulates integrated solution of the problem of sustainable energy supply, creation of an optimal energy balance and facilitation of the oblast’s energy security.

One of the basic principles of the General layout is the utilization of all available energy resources of the region. This approach made it possible to determine the rational share of natural gas in Irkutskaya oblast’s energy balance. According to the General layout, gas supplies will be facilitated by small and medium sized gas fields, which will resolve the problem of gas supplies of 8 regions within the oblast during the first stage of the project.

Alexander Ananenkov stated: “The General layout specifies, in respect to Irkutskaya oblast, the provisions of the Program of creating a unified system of production, transportation and supply of gas in Eastern Siberia and the Far East with the possibility of gas exports to China and other Asia Pacific countries, that was developed in accordance with the Russian Federation government’s instructions. In the General layout, Gazprom successively implements the Program’s main principles: priority of gas supply to local consumers, the development of a natural gas market in the Eastern part of Russia, creation of gas processing and chemical industry. Implementing the General layout will make it possible to start gas supplies to Irkutskaya oblast’s consumers in 2007”.

Alexander Tishanin stated: “We are satisfied that Gazprom developed General layout is aimed at the solution of social and economic problems facing Irkutskaya oblast. During the first stage of the layout’s realization will bring natural gas to 100 settlements located in remote northern parts of the region. It is important to us that the General layout includes an integrated approach to the resource potential of the oblast. It stipulates development of small and medium sized gas fields of Irkutskaya oblast which would have been otherwise left untapped. The implementation of the General layout will facilitate the growth of gross regional product and creation of additional jobs”.

After the presentation and discussion of the General layout it was approved by the oblast’s administration.

Reference:

In February 2004, Gazprom and Irkutstkaya oblast administration signed a Cooperation agreement which included the development of the General layout of gas supply and gasification of Irkutskaya oblast by Gazprom.

The Program of creating a unified system of production, transportation and supply of gas in Eastern Siberia and the Far East with the possibility of gas exports to China and other Asia Pacific countries developed by the Ministry of Industry and Energy of Russia and Gazprom in accordance with the Russian Federation Governmental decree #975-p of 16 July 2002, includes the provision of developing Irkutskaya oblast (together with Krasnoyarsky krai, Sakhalinskaya oblast, and Sakha Republic (Yakutiya)) as a large center of gas production, processing and gas chemical industry.

Currently there are 11 discovered hydrocarbon resources fields in Irkutskaya oblast, natural gas proved reserves stand at 2.27 trillion cubic meters, and initial total gas reserves are estimated at 11 trillion cubic meters.

Gazprom owns two licenses for exploration of the Eastern and Western parts of the Yuzhno-Koviktinskaya area. Irkutskgazprom (a wholly owned subsidiary of Gazprom) is in charge of exploration in the area.

Promgaz, Gazprom’s subsidiary, is one of the major research centers of the company. Promgaz’s major tasks include the development of regional integrated energy projects and energy supply projects, general layouts and gas supply and gasification investment projects in Russia, and projects of developing small oil and gas fields and coal-bed methane resources.