Today, under the framework of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2010 in the presence of First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Viktor Zubkov, Chairman of the Gazprom Board of Directors and Minister of Economic Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Maria van der Hoeven, the Chairman of the Management Committee of OAO Gazprom, Alexey Miller and the Chairman of the Executive Board, CEO of Gasunie Marcel Kramer signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Strategic Cooperation.

The document provides for the enhanced framework of bilateral cooperation taking into account the expanded areas of interaction between the companies.

The Memorandum provides for further deepening of cooperation between the companies in the areas of gas transmission infrastructure, underground gas storage, construction of Nord Stream gas pipeline to ensure reliable and efficient delivery of necessary volumes of gas to European consumers.

In addition, the parties will explore possibilities for expanding cooperation in the fields of scientific and technological cooperation, LNG, environmental protection, energy efficiency, information and cultural exchanges, personnel management, etc.

In accordance with the Memorandum, the parties will continue cooperation within the framework of the initiative of Gazprom and the Project Delta Group, the International Gas Union (IGU), the European Business Congress (EBC) and other international fora related to gas business.

“Development of the strategic partnership between Gazprom and Gasunie is essential to strengthen the positions of the companies as major players in the European gas market and will strengthen the energy security of Europe. Cooperation with Gasunie has the particularly productive character”, – said Alexey Miller.

“The signed Memorandum reflects and acknowledges the ongoing development of the good cooperation between our companies as it has evolved over the years. It provides a platform for further strengthening of our relationship”, – said Marcel Kramer

Background:

Gasunie is an European natural gas transportation company. Gasunie network ranks among the largest high-pressure gas pipeline grids in Europe, consisting of over 15,000 km of pipelines in the Netherlands and Northern Germany and approximately 1,300 gas receiving stations. The annual throughput capacity of the gas network totals some 125 billion cubic meters. Gasunie offers transportation services via its subsidiaries Gas Transport Services B.V. in the Netherlands and Gasunie Deutschland in Germany. In addition, the company offers other services in the gas infrastructure sector including natural gas storage and LNG.

On June 29, 2004, OAO Gazprom and Gasunie signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Strategic Cooperation. The signed document is a new version of the Memorandum of 2004.

On November 6, 2007 Gazprom and Gasunie signed the Umbrella Agreement to partner in the Nord Stream and BBL gas pipeline projects. On June 10, 2008 Gasunie was added into the Nord Stream AG shareholders register as a new shareholder and obtained a 9 per cent stake in this joint venture.

On December 7, 2007 Gazprom and Gasunie signed the Agreement on Sci-Tech Cooperation.