The Gazprom Headquarters hosted today a working meeting between Alexander Ananenkov, Deputy Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee and Kenichiro Ushino, President of Marubeni-Itochu Steel Inc.

The parties discussed the issues of possible cooperation when implementing Gazprom’s large-scale projects in Eastern Russia, including the project for the Sakhalin – Khabarovsk – Vladivostok gas transmission system construction.

Background:

Marubeni-Itochu Steel Inc. is a metallurgical company set up by Marubeni Corporation and ltochu Corporation in 2001. The company is dealing with manufacture and sale of steel products.

The September 2007 Order by the Russian Federation Industry and Energy Ministry approved 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). Gazprom was appointed by the Russian Federation Government as the Program execution coordinator.

The Eastern Gas Program stipulates the prioritized construction and development of the Sakhalin – Khabarovsk – Vladivostok gas transmission system. The first start-up complex of the system will be brought onstream in the third quarter of 2011.