Yakutia gas production center boosting regional socioeconomic development

Yakutsk hosted today a working meeting between Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee and Yegor Borisov, President of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia).

The parties discussed the progress with the Agreement of Cooperation and prospects for future partnership in light of the final investment decision on the Chayandinskoye field adopted by Gazprom as well as construction of gas transmission and processing facilities.
The meeting noted that Gazprom had significantly increased the investments channeled to the Republic's economy: between 2007 and 2011 the Company allocated RUB 5.1 billion for creating the Yakutia gas production center, and RUB 4.2 billion – during ten months of the current year only.

 Expansion of Gazprom's business in Yakutia is a strong driver for socioeconomic development of the region. In particular, construction of gas transmission facilities in the region will provide for its further gasification. The Yakutia – Khabarovsk – Vladivostok gas pipeline will run, inter alia, via southern regions of Yakutia. The gas pipeline route was selected so as to convey gas to the maximum possible number of population centers.

In addition, the Yakutia gas production center will raise the employment level of the local population. Some 3,000 experts will be engaged in operation of the gas pipeline and Gazprom's production facilities in Yakutia. Nowadays, the Company provides training for experts, also from Yakutia, at Russian professional educational centers and encourages development of new education programs.

The parties emphasized that it was necessary to intensify efforts aimed at creating favorable conditions for the gas sector development in Yakutia. The meeting noted that Gazprom and the Government of the Republic would speed up preparation of the state support projects, including elaboration of the regional legislative acts on tax benefits.

Alongside with expanding the presence in the Yakutia economy, Gazprom pays particular attention to development of the social sector. As part of the Gazprom for Children program, a versatile complex for children is being built in Yakutsk. Construction of an art and culture center in Yakutsk may become another example of joint efforts with the Republic.