OREANDA-NEWS. July 20, 2011.  Led by Alexander Ananenkov, Deputy Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee, a group of the Company's experts started a business trip to the Komi Republic and the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug (YaNAO). The trip is targeted at monitoring the Yamal megaproject implementation.

 The group of experts is comprised of the following Management Committee Members: Yaroslav Golko, Head of the Investment and Construction Department, Viktor Ilyushin, Head of the Department for Relations with the Russian Federation Authorities and Vsevolod Cherepanov, Head of the Gas, Gas Condensate and Oil Production Department.

 In Vorkuta Gazprom's officials inspected construction sites of the Bovanenkovo – Ukhta gas trunkline system (GTS), a key element of the new gas transmission system intended for the Yamal gas delivery into Russia's Unified Gas Supply System. They also visited construction sites of the Vorkutinskaya compressor station (CS) and the Vorkuta Line Pipe Operation Center.

 Alexander Ananenkov moderated a briefing in Vorkuta with participation of heads and experts from Gazprom's specialized structural units, Yamalgazinvest, Gazprom komplektatsiya, Gazprom transgaz Ukhta, engineering and contracting companies.

 It was highlighted that a total of 981 kilometers out of more than 1,200 kilometers (including backup strings and submerged crossings) of the Bovanenkovo – Ukhta line pipe have been welded up so far. Some 940 kilometers have been trenched and buried. It is projected to complete the construction of the GTS first string this year that will allow starting the Yamal gas supplies to consumers in the third quarter of 2012.

 The Yamal gas production center creation and the gas transmission system construction will open a new page in the history of the Russian gas industry. The Yamal fields will help significantly build up gas production that is especially important against the backdrop of soaring gas demand both is Russia and abroad. “There is no alternative to Yamal!” highlighted Alexander Ananenkov at the briefing.

 Based on the briefing results, Gazprom's specialized structural units, subsidiaries and contracting companies were tasked to ensure construction of the Bovanenkovo – Ukhta GTS according to the approved schedule.
Background

 The Yamal Peninsula is a region of Gazprom's strategic interests. Commercial development of the Yamal fields will increase local gas production to 310–360 billion cubic meters per annum by 2030. Accessing Yamal is fundamentally important for ensuring domestic gas production growth.

 In order to secure the delivery of gas from Yamal into Russia's Unified Gas Supply System, a unique, unparalleled in Russia, new-generation gas transmission system is to be created before 2030. Gas from Yamal will be transported via the Yamal – Ukhta and further along the Ukhta – Gryazovets, Gryazovets – Torzhok, Gryazovets – Yaroslavl and Ukhta – Pochinki pipelines. The overall distance of Yamal gas transmission via the new gas pipelines will exceed 2,500 kilometers.

 In December 2008 Gazprom commenced practical implementation of the Yamal megaproject. The Company started the operations aimed at the Bovanenkovo field development and the Bovanenkovo – Ukhta GTS construction. The first startup complexes of the field and the GTS are to be commissioned in the third quarter of 2012.