OREANDA-NEWS. The Gazprom Management Committee addressed operating results of the Company's subsidiaries over the autumn/winter 2013–2014 period (from October to March) as well as the measures required for uninterrupted gas supply to consumers in the autumn/winter 2014–2015 period.

During the past autumn/winter period Gazprom Group ensured sustainable gas supplies to Russian consumers as well as gas exports. The maximum daily gas production was secured at the level of 1.648 billion cubic meters. January 30, 2014 saw a historic peak of daily gas withdrawal within the Unified Gas Supply System coverage area – 1.79 billion cubic meters.

On January 31 a new deliverability record was set over the entire history of UGS facilities operation in Russia – 725.2 million cubic meters a day, nearly corresponding to the maximum possible daily sendout in the beginning of the withdrawal season (727.8 million cubic meters). The peak gas withdrawal rate from Russian UGS facilities exceeded 40.6 per cent of gas consumption within the Unified Gas Supply System area.

The meeting highlighted that in order to meet an increased gas demand in the autumn/winter period Gazprom consistently developed gas production, transmission and storage capacities and steadily performed scheduled preventive maintenance and repair work at the Unified Gas Supply System facilities.

As a result, the Company significantly increases the potential deliverability of UGS facilities in Russia by each withdrawal season. Over the last five autumn/winter periods the maximum daily deliverability by the beginning of a withdrawal season rose by 17.4 per cent to 727.8 million cubic meters and the average daily deliverability in December-February – by 16 per cent to 579.6 million cubic meters. By the autumn/winter 2014–2015 period these figures are scheduled to grow by 6.1 per cent – to 772 million cubic meters and by 4.1 per cent – to 603.1 million cubic meters, correspondingly. With due account for UGS facilities located in Belarus, by the next winter the potential capacity of storage facilities will reach: the maximum daily deliverability by the withdrawal season startup – 803 million cubic meters of gas, average daily deliverability in December-February – 609.3 million cubic meters.

In order to ensure reliable operation of the Unified Gas Supply System (UGSS) in the autumn/winter 2014–2015 period, the Management Committee entrusted the specialized structural units and subsidiaries with the following tasks:

stockpiling at least 71.13 billion cubic meters of operating (marketable) gas reserves in Russian underground gas storage (UGS) facilities and 1.035 billion cubic meters in Belarusian UGS facilities, an increase by 3.1 per cent and 12.5 per cent versus the same indicators of 2013, and by 7.3 per cent and 20.3 per cent versus 2012;
implementing the Basic Guidelines on preparing Gazprom's subsidiary facilities for operation during the autumn/winter 2014–2015 period;
performing scheduled preventive maintenance and repair work at gas production, transmission, underground storage and processing facilities; preparing transportation vehicles and specialized equipment for winter operation.
The Gazprom Management Committee meeting emphasized that underground gas storage segment would be further developed.