OREANDA-NEWS. June 29, 2009. Alexander Ananenkov, Deputy Chairman of Gazprom Management Committee held a meeting at the Gazprom Headquarters with regard to optimizing and developing the underground gas storage (UGS) system under the conditions of reduced gas consumption.

Taking part in the meeting were Oleg Aksyutin, Member of the Management Committee – Head of the Gas Transportation, Underground Storage and Utilization Department, heads and specialists from Gazprom Administration specialized subdivisions and Gazprom UGS, Gazprom export, Gazprom tsentrremont, Gazprom komplektatsiya, Gazprom VNIIGAZ, Podzemgazprom, Podzemburgaz.

In his opening speech Alexander Ananenkov underlined that amidst the global economic crisis the operating reliability of UGS facilities as an integral part of the Unified Gas Supply System should remain at a high level, with a focus to be still placed on the production capacity buildup for raising the daily UGS deliverability.

The meeting participants addressed UGS operating highlights during the autumn/winter period of 2008–2009. The meeting discussed the top-priority activities relevant to capital construction, repair and reconstruction of UGS facilities for the current year as well as the prospects for UGS capacities development abroad.

Based on the meeting results Gazprom’s specialized subdivisions and its subsidiaries were entrusted with the tasks aimed at UGS optimization and development in order to ensure the reliable and uninterrupted operation of the Unified Gas Supply System.