OREANDA-NEWS. October 06, 2015. At the Sochi-2015 International Investment Forum, TMK, one of the world’s leading producers of tubular products for the oil and gas industry, and Gazprom, in the presence of Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, have signed a long-term agreement to supply a complete set of premium tubular products.

The agreement signed with TMK is part of Gazprom's new approach to work with producers of import replacement tubular products. Under this approach, Gazprom and a producer sign a long-term contract that will ensure guaranteed purchase volumes throughout the contract term.

The agreement has been signed for a period of several years and will see TMK develop, manufacture and supply tubular products to Gazprom and offer maintenance.

TMK will supply high strength special pipes with premium threaded connections of carbon, alloy and special steels to be used in adverse climate conditions and aggressive environments. The products will be designed and supplied in accordance with specific technical requirements Gazprom has for its current and newly developed projects, including the Astrakhan, Urengoy, Chayandinskoye and Kovyktinskoye fields, and offshore projects.

After passing comprehensive site and bench tests at Gazprom's VNIIGAZ scientific and research institute, TMK's tubular products have been confirmed for use in challenging production environments.

“Delivering innovative tubular products to get ahead of and substitute imports is one of the key tasks for the national market. The agreement follows up on Gazprom's plans for 100% import substitution announced at the meeting with the largest Russian pipe producers at Volzhsky Pipe Plant in May 2015. Essentially, it means creating a future thing that does not exist in Russia. With TMK’s unparalleled expertise in the Russian market, we have reaffirmed our commitment to provide our most important partner with unique high-tech tubular solutions that effectively substitute imported products and meet stringent requirements of the gas company”, commented Dmitry Pumpyanskiy, Chairman of TMK's Board of Directors.