Gazprom’s Regional Policy Commission has convened on its regular session chaired by Alexander Ryazanov, Head of the Commission and Deputy Chairman of Gazprom’s Management Committee.

The Commission addressed a string of matters relative to budget building in the RF constituents and municipalities for the purpose of providing full and timely natural gas payments. After outlining existing problems, the Commission advised to produce proposals aiming to amend the legislation regulating allocation of finance used as consumer gas, electricity, heat and other utility payments.

The session also explored the existing system of residential gas use standardization, underscoring that present-day gas consumption norms substantially varied throughout the Russian Federation and frequently did not reflect the real situation.

In this regards, Mezhregiongaz and Gazprom’s business units were entrusted with developing concerted proposals aiming to introduce the scientifically-underpinned residential gas consumption standard fundamentals in various Russian regions, taking into account the climatic conditions.

At the same time, the parties discussed the progress in the preparation of consistent proposals to amend the existing gas supply regulations within Russia. Pending the RF Government’s endorsement, the proposals are being developed by a working group set up under the auspices of Russian Gas Society and composed of representatives from Gazprom, Mezhregiongaz, RF Federal Antimonopoly Agency, RF Industry and Energy Ministry as well as independent gas producers. To this end, the meeting emphasized that the RF gas supply regulations had been approved in 1998 and omitted certain changes in the gas supply arrangements.

The Commission also reviewed the privatization of living quarters by Gazprom’s subsidiaries’ employees given the changed Russian Federal legislation. Gazprom’s divisions were tasked with scrutinizing the existing situation and stepping up due proposals.

Reference:

In pursuance of Article 4 of the Law on the Housing Privatization in the RF, the living quarters provided to the population after 1 March 2005 are not subject to privatization. As a result, a whole range of Gazprom’s subsidiaries have lost the opportunity to transfer housing facilities under their employees’ ownership.

DIVISION OF RELATIONS WITH MASS MEDIA