OREANDA-NEWS. The third cavern of the Katharina underground gas storage (UGS) facility with the capacity of nearly 60 million cubic meters was commissioned in Bernburg. Thus, the facility's aggregate working gas volume grew by 50 per cent and totaled some 170 million cubic meters.

Today the 5th anniversary of the Katharina UGS facility commissioning is celebrated. Alexander Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee headed the Company's delegation at the ceremony in Berlin.

He also took part in the Board of Directors' meeting of Erdgasspeicher Peissen - the company engaged in Katharina's construction and operation. The meeting participants addressed the prospects for the company's participation in developing the underground gas storage segment in Europe.

"Gazprom aims at increasing its gas storage capacities abroad to boost the flexibility and reliability of our export supplies," said Alexander Medvedev.

The Katharina UGS facility is a joint venture established on a par by Gazprom and VNG.

In 2017 Katharina will comprise seven caverns. The aggregate volume of the storage facility will exceed 600 million cubic meters, and the daily deliverability will total 26 million cubic meters.