Azerbaijan, Baku, 30 June / corr. Trend A. Badalova/ The largest gas monopolist Gazprom plans to increase the gas production up to 570bln cu meters by 2010, Aleksey Miller, chairman of the Board of Directors of the company said in the shareholder's meeting.
According to the plans, the gas production will total to 610bln-615bln cu m a year by 2015 and 650bln-670bln - by 2020. The planned gas production will total to 563bln cu m in the current year.
In 2007, Gazprom put into exploitation several large fields. According to Miller, new strategic gas production regions in Yamal peninsular, on the shelf of the Barents Sea, eastern Siberia and Far East are expected to be developed after 2010.
As to the new projects, Miller mentioned the joint project with the German BASF on the development of Southern Russian field with a capacity of 25bln gas a year. The field is expected to be put into exploitation in 2009.
The second largest project is the project on the development of Shtokmanski field which will be carried out by Gazprom together with the French Total and Norwegian Statoil Hydro. The reserves of the field total to 3.8trln cu m of gas and about 31mln tons of gas condensate. The first stage of the development of the field envisages production of 23.7bln cu m of gas a year. The transport of gas via the pipeline will begin in 2013 and liquefied gas - 2014.
According to Miller, Gazprom's joining Sakhalin-2 project in the early 2007 secured access to the new consumers - Asian and Pacific Ocean region and American market.
Miller noted that the transportation of gas is one of the priorities of the investment program of Gazprom.
"The completion of the construction of North Stream gas pipeline will secure direct supplies not less than 55bln cu of gas to several European markets including Germany, France, Belgium, Denmark, the Great Britain and others. The capacity can be increased if it is necessary," Miller said.
According to Miller, Gazprom will put up annual investments for the geological survey by 2008- 2010 in the Russian territory by 2.5 times up to 70bln rubles. On the average, the investments will amount to 90bln rubles a year by 2020.
"The expansion of our source of raw materials abroad and obtaining a license for the geological survey and development of the hydrocarbon fields in various regions of the world is of great significance," Miller added.
At present, geological survey is being carried out in Vietnam, India, Venezuela, Libya, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Talks are being held with Turkmenistan, Nigeria and Iran, he said.
The chairman of the Board of Directors also stressed the significant role of the investments in the establishment of the underground gas-holder in the European countries. In April 2008, a contract was signed on cooperation in the sphere of gas-holders between Gazprom and Ferbundnets gas AG according to which the partners will construct new gas -holder near Bernburg.
"We are also developing a large Khaydakh gas -holder in Austria which was put into exploitation with a capacity of 1.2bln c m with a further expansion," Miller said.
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