OREANDA-NEWS. May 28, 2009. In Khabarovsk Alexander Levintal, Deputy Plenipotentiary Envoy of the Russian Federation President to the Far Eastern Federal District (FEFD) and Alexander Ananenkov, Deputy Chairman of Gazprom’s Management Committee moderated a meeting of the coordination center for the Sakhalin – Khabarovsk – Vladivostok gas transmission system (GTS) construction.

Attendance at the meeting consisted of representatives from federal ministries and agencies, executive bodies of the Primorsky and Khabarovsk Krais, and the Sakhalin Oblast as well as heads and experts from Gazprom’s and subsidiary specialized subdivisions.

Addressing the meeting Alexander Ananenkov underlined that the Eastern Gas Program approved by the Russian Government not only created a framework for the gas industry development in Eastern Siberia and the Far East covering 60 per cent of the country’s area, but also provided a breakthrough in the regional economic development.

“The program contributes a lot to the intensive upgrade of the machine-building, shipbuilding sectors and the entire economy of Eastern Russia. Thus, execution of the prioritized Sakhalin – Khabarovsk – Vladivostok GTS project within the Eastern Gas Program is a crucial national task,” emphasized Alexander Ananenkov.

At present, an intensive build-up of construction capacities is in progress, the relevant infrastructure is being prepared and large-diameter pipes are being purchased. “Due to the rapid paces of work, the decision has been taken to increase the project investments up to RUB 50 billion in 2009,” noted Alexander Ananenkov.

The meeting paid special attention to the state support measures for the gas industry development in Russia’s Far East, both on the federal and the regional levels. It was noted that adoption of the required regulatory documents and approval of design and working documentation should not miss the tight deadline defined by the President and the Government of the Russian Federation for the Sakhalin – Khabarovsk – Vladivostok project. The speakers also underscored that the joint efforts of the local authorities and Gazprom’s specialized subdivisions aimed at defining the top-priority gasification facilities and gasification schemes should be carried out in parallel with the gas transmission system construction.

Based on the results of the meeting held by the coordination center under the Plenipotentiary Envoy of the Russian Federation President to the FEFD, the local executive bodies, Gazprom’s specialized subdivisions and subsidiary companies were tasked to assure the timely execution of the Sakhalin – Khabarovsk – Vladivostok GTS project.