The Gazprom Headquarters hosted today a working meeting between Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Company’s Management Committee and Alexander Mikhailov, Governor of the Kursk Oblast.

The meeting participants addressed the progress with the Cooperation Agreement and the Gasification Accord inked between Gazprom and the Kursk Oblast Administration.

It was noted at the meeting that the parties were performing their obligations undertaken in relation to the Kursk Oblast gasification.

Background:

The open-end Cooperation Agreement between Gazprom and the Kursk Oblast Administration was signed in December 2002, the Gasification Accord – in March 2007.

In 2008 Gazprom supplied the Kursk Oblast with over 1.9 billion cubic meters of natural gas and over 2 billion cubic meters are slated for the current year.

Natural gas penetration in the Kursk Oblast averages 68.1 per cent including 85.4 per cent in cities and towns, and 42.5 per cent in the rural area. The identical figures throughout Russia average 62, 67 and 44 per cent respectively.

During 2002–2008 Gazprom invested circa RUB 2.8 billion in the gasification of the Kursk Oblast.

The 2009 investments will amount to RUB 530 million. These funds will be used to accomplish the construction of nine inter-settlement gas pipelines with the total length of 224.3 kilometers. The Kursk Oblast Administration, in turn, supported the construction of 362.2-kilometer-long gas network pipelines, prepared 3,800 households and 14 boiler houses to receive gas.