Gazprom’s Management Committee considered the data with regard to providing independent gas producers with nondiscriminatory access to the Unified Gas Supply System (UGSS) capacities.

The Management Committee noted that the access should be granted based on the principles aimed at meeting Gazprom’s obligations concerning reliable gas supply to Russian Federation consumers, stable operation and development of the UGSS, development of federal gas fields and fulfillment of international gas export commitments.

Gazprom’s relevant divisions were assigned to prepare materials about the provision of nondiscriminatory access to UGSS for independent gas producers, to be reviewed at a Board of Directors’ meeting.

Background:

Gazprom’s activities in relation to the provision of nondiscriminatory access to the gas transmission system (GTS) for independent companies was arranged as per the Regulations for the preparation and issuance of authorizations for independent company access to Gazprom’s GTS, approved by the Gazprom Order dated June 30, 2005.

The number of independent companies with access to Gazprom’s GTS for gas deliveries to consumers rose from 6 (1998) to 32 as of September 15, 2008. The number of submitted applications grew 17 times versus 1998 to 237 in 2007.

As of September 15, 2008 Russian gas transmission volumes allowed for independent companies rose up from 25.2 bcm in 1998 to 56.9 bcm.