Nizhny Novgorod hosted today the seventh meeting of the Coordinating Council between Gazprom and E.ON Ruhrgas AG on sci-tech cooperation, personnel training and career development.

The meeting was moderated by the Council Co-Chairpersons: Vlada Rusakova, Member of the Management Committee, Head of the Strategic Development Department on behalf of Gazprom; and Dr. Henning Deters, Member of the Board of Management, Head of Supply, Trading and Infrastructure Divisions, and Dr. Thomas Koenig, Member of the Board of Management and Director of Labor Relations on behalf of E.ON Ruhrgas.

The Coordinating Committee meeting was attended by heads of Gazprom's subsidiaries – Gazprom transgaz Nizhny Novgorod, Giprogaztsentr , Gazprom promgaz, NIIgazeconomika and Podzemgazprom.

The meeting participants discussed the recent results achieved in implementing the programs for sci-tech cooperation, personnel training and career development in the companies. The meeting highlighted the primary role of natural gas in the energy sector of the future and importance of its wider use in vehicles. Consideration was also given to energy saving potential in the gas industry as well as the energy-efficient technology of gas injection into an underground storage facility, development of complex reservoirs using advanced drilling and well completion methods, telecommunications and metrological support of natural gas supplies via the Nord Stream gas pipeline. Special attention was paid to crucial challenges in the gas production process: use of membrane technology for inert components separation, optimization of inhibitors, treatment and disposal of reservoir/industrial waters.

Based on the meeting results, the parties expressed their contentment with the achieved results of cooperation between Gazprom and E.ON Ruhrgas in human relations, science and technology.

Background

E.ON is Europe's largest investor-owned electric power and gas company. Since February 2003 E.ON Ruhrgas (before July 1, 2004 Ruhrgas) has been a subsidiary of E.ON and is responsible for the group's gas business in Europe, including natural gas production, marketing, transportation and storage.

In the early 1970s Ruhrgas became one of the first large buyers of Russian gas in Western Europe.

Currently, the cooperation between Gazprom and E.ON Ruhrgas is not limited to gas trading. The companies jointly participate in the Yuzhno-Russkoye oil and gas field development as well as the Nord Stream gas pipeline construction.

Moreover, Gazprom and E.ON Ruhrgas deepen their cooperation pursuant to the Sci-Tech Cooperation Program for 2009–2011.