OREANDA-NEWS. May 20, 2013. Rosneft signed several agreements to boost the gas engine fuel market after the meeting held by the Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi dedicated to future use of gas engine fuel.

President of Rosneft Igor Sechin and General Director of VOLKSWAGEN Group Rus LLC Marcus Osegowitsch signed an agreement aimed at the development of the compressed natural gas (CNG) market in Russia, as well as the CNG-powered vehicles market. The agreement envisages the development of CNG filling infrastructure, equipment of Rosneft filling stations with facilities to provide CNG sales, as well as bringing Volkswagen, Audi, SKODA and VW Commercial CNG-powered vehicles to the market.

The parties also intend to develop service infrastructure for CNG-powered vehicles, supply special equipment to service stations and train personnel.

OJSC Rosneft and OJSC KAMAZ signed an agreement on scientific and technological cooperation to expand use of natural gas as motor fuel.

The largest oil and gas company and a leading Russian truck manufacturer intend to conduct joint research and development in order to build wheeled vehicles with gas-powered engines and develop necessary infrastructure of filling stations and service centers. Besides, they plan to produce and put vehicles, special and farm machinery to compressed natural gas and liquefied natural gas, which will be used as a new motor fuel.

The agreement provides for training and professional development of engineering and technical staff, mechanics and drivers in operation, maintenance and repairs of gas-powered vehicles and machinery.

Rosneft also signed three-party agreements.

President of OJSC Rosneft President Igor Sechin, Governor of Stavropol Territory Valery Zerenkov and Director General of OJSC KAMAZ Sergey Kogogin signed an agreement to implement joint projects to substitute petrol and diesel fuel, which is used by vehicles, with gas engine fuel as motor fuel in Stavropol Territory.

The agreement provides for joint efforts as well as implementation of regional and municipal programs in this area. The parties plan to develop the regional market of gas engine fuel, infrastructure for gas engine fuel sales and maintenance of gas engine vehicles, substitution of a car fleet with gas-powered vehicles and machinery. The parties also plan to conduct field tests of new compressed gas vehicles by motor carriers of the region and supply of vehicles and machinery manufactured by KAMAZ.

In addition, Rosneft, Governor of Voronezh Region Aleksey Gordeyev and Director General of OJSC KAMAZ Sergey Kogogin signed a cooperation agreement for expanded use of gas engine fuel.

President of OJSC Rosneft President Igor Sechin and heads of the Russian regions where Rosneft conducts business signed cooperation agreements for expanded use of gas engine fuel. Such agreements were signed with Governor of Samara Region Nikolay Merkushkin, Governor of Krasnodar Territory Alexander Tkachev.

Besides, Igor Sechin and President of OJSC Russian Railways Vladimir Yakunin signed a memorandum of understanding to develop railway use of gas.