OREANDA-NEWS. AEA Technology International Consultancy published the Sakhalin-2 project independent environmental report, the Gazprom information division disclosed.

The report states that Health, Safety, Environmental and Social Action Plan (HSESAP) developed by Sakhalin Energy for Sakhalin-2 project in general meets Russian and international legislative requirements related to the environmental and industrial safety.

In particular, the report emphasizes the activities of the Western Gray Whale Advisory Panel, safety management of drilling muds, upgrade of municipal landfills, year-round use of double hulled tankers, development of an effective Indigenous Minorities Development Plan, provision of funds to social projects and sustainable development programs, as well as the upgrade of the health care infrastructure.

"Further Sakhalin Energy HSE plans meet a large majority of the requirements against which the project has been assessed, and the Company's individual activities obviously deserve appreciation," states the report.

АЕА Technologies plc is a leading independent oil and gas industry environmental consultant. АЕА has been carrying out Sakhalin-2 investigation for the potential lenders of the project namely UK Export Credits Guarantee Department, Japan Bank for International Cooperation, and US Export-Import Bank since September 2001.

Sakhalin-2 is the world's largest integrated oil and gas projects with the reserves valued at 4 bln barrels of oil equivalent. The present-day production potential of Sakhalin-2 is 80 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day. Thanks to Development Phase 2, the project production potential will grow to 395 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day, taking account of 9.6 mln tons of LNG to be produced per annum.

On April 18, 2007, Gazprom and Sakhalin Energy shareholders - Royal Dutch Shell plc, Mitsui & Co. Ltd and Mitsubishi Corporation - (Sakhalin Energy is the Sakhalin-2 project operator) signed Purchase and Sale Agreement, which stipulates Gazprom's acquisition of a 50 per cent plus one share stake in Sakhalin Energy.