MOSCOW, June 20./ITAR-TASS/.The Stavropol gas transportation system will pipe 60% more gas by 2018 than the transit volume piped through Ukraine's territory, Gazprom reports.

Gazprom head Alexei Miller, during a meeting with Acting Governor of the Stavropol Territory Vladimir Vladimirov, noted the growing role of the Stavropol transpiration system, including for export to Armenia and Turkey.

The volume of gas to be transported through the Gazprom Transgaz Stavropol system, linking ten regions, will be increased to 135 billion cubic meters a year by 2018.

Transit transportation of Russian gas through Ukraine in 2013 amounted to 86.1 billion.

The Stavropol Territory reports high investment activity of companies. This year alone, investments of Gazprom and its subsidiaries in the region are planned to reach 23.8 billion roubles. The funds are mainly channeled into the development of the gas transportation system, including reconstruction of the northern Stavropol underground gas storage facilities and construction of compressor stations at the Privolnoye-Mozdok branch of the Northern Caucasus-Centre gas pipeline system. Their capacity will allow completely removing risks of gas supplies from Central Asia in winter, which Gazprom is regularly faced with.