As part of the official visit by the Gazprom delegation to the Republic of Slovenia, Ljubljana hosted today working meetings among Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Company's Management Committee, Danilo Turk, President of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, Slovenian Prime Minister and Darja Radic, Slovenian Minister of Economy.

The meeting participants discussed the current status and prospects for interaction between Russia and Slovenia in the energy sector. Particular consideration was given to the progress with joint projects including the largest one – the transnational South Stream gas pipeline construction. Slovenian Geoplin Plinovodi is involved in the project execution.

In the course of the meetings the parties highlighted their interest in further partnership deepening between Russia and Slovenia as well as in continuing the activity in order to specify new mutually beneficial projects in the energy sector.

In addition, Gaztelecom and Comita signed a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate in the telecommunications sector.

Background

Russian natural gas has been supplied to Slovenia since 1978.

In 2010 Gazprom delivered 0.52 billion cubic meters of gas to the Republic. The current contract is effective through 2017.

In order to diversify the natural gas export routes Gazprom is planning to build a gas pipeline running under the Black Sea to the countries of Southern and Central Europe – the South Stream project.

It is planned that the South Stream capacity will be built up gradually. The projected throughput of the South Stream offshore section will reach a total of 63 billion cubic meters per year. The first string of the South Stream gas pipeline is planned to become operational by late 2015.

Intergovernmental agreements were signed with Slovenia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, Greece, Croatia and Austria in order to implement the onshore gas pipeline section.

On May 27, 2010 Gazprom and Geoplin Plinovodi signed the Feasibility Study Agreement for the South Stream section in Slovenia identifying Geoplin Plinovodi as the FS customer. The FS has been accomplished so far.

On March 22, 2011 Gazprom and Geoplin Plinovodi signed the South Stream Slovenia Shareholders' Agreement. South Stream Slovenia is a joint project company set up on a parity basis to implement the South Stream project in Slovenia. South Stream Slovenia is engaged in project documents preparation, fundraising, construction and operation of the gas pipeline in Slovenia.

Slovenian Comita develops technologies for telecommunication and climatic equipment as well as the energy sector.