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Gazprom to assign RUB 21 bln for development of gas services in Volgograd rgn

Such a comprehensive program will require participation of the regional population

MOSCOW, October 24 (Itar-Tass) —— Russia’s gas monopoly Gazprom and the Volgograd region’s authorities to work out a program aimed at the linking of every home to the gas-supply networks in the region, Russian First Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the company’s Board of Directors Viktor Zubkov told reporters on Monday.

On Monday, Gazprom’s Board of Directors adopted a program for the development of the regional gas-supply services in the period from 2011 to 2013. The company will assign 21 billion roubles (USD 1 = RUB 30.82) for the implementation of the project.

“Such a comprehensive program will require participation of the regional population. The linking of private homes [to the network] is a rather complex task. It will require investments,” Zubkov said. In his words, the administration of the Volgograd region thinks that the linking of a home to the gas infrastructure will cost 75,000 roubles.

“It is too big money for poor population. Based on this, Gazprom jointly with the Volgograd government plans to work out such policy, which will allow to those people, who can pay for the linkup, to do it, and guarantee a preferential loan of the Russian Agricultural Bank for those persons who cannot pay for the connection to the network,” he said.

Besides, those persons, who cannot pay for the connection to the network and cannot borrow a loan, will be linked to the gas-supply networks free of charge, he said, adding that the Volgograd regional administration plans to pay for the latter part of the population from its own funds.

Gazprom, in turn, will consider ways for its participation in this part of the program, Zubkov said.

While speaking about the program adopted by Gazprom, he pointed to its unprecedentedness. The program envisages colossal amounts of works, which previously did no region. Over past seven years, about 40 local were built between villages and towns of the Volgograd region.

The plans envisage construction of 68 gas infrastructure facilities in 2011, 88 facilities in 2012, and 102 facilities in 2013. Every home of the region is expected will be linked to the gas-supply networks by the end of 2013, the first deputy prime minister said.

In his words, the program envisions construction of about 3,000 kilometres of gas pipelines, four new gas-distribution stations, as well as upgrading of a part of the operating facilities. Besides, the program envisages huge amounts of work for the commissioning of new facilities for the infrastructure.

In 2011, Gazprom will assign four billion roubles for the implementation of the program, Zubkov said, reaffirming that the earlier plans envisaged only 53 million roubles.

In 2011-2013, the gas monopoly plans to assign 21 billion roubles for the development of the regional gas-supply services. About ten billion roubles will be assigned by the administration of the Volgograd region.

“Such unprecedented funds will make it possible to commission a great number of appropriate facilities. We will do our utmost to implement fully the program before the end of 2013,” Zubkov said.