Within the framework of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, an agreement of intent on gas supply and gasification of the Murmansk Region was signed between the regional government and Gazprom PJSC. The document was signed by Governor Andrey Chibis and Chairman of the Gazprom Management Board Alexey Miller.
"The Murmansk region will be gasified. This agreement is a huge and historic breakthrough for the Murmansk Region. As a result of the project, houses will be able to be heated with gas, we will move away from expensive and non-environmentally friendly fuel oil, and our enterprises will be able to create new production facilities. There is a request for this. According to preliminary estimates, more than 20 thousand jobs will be created during gasification and over 400 billion rubles of investments will be attracted. The economic and social impact for the entire region will indeed be enormous. And I once again thank the President of Russia and the entire federal Government for their support on this issue. Only thanks to well–coordinated and consistent steps we managed to achieve this most important decision for us," commented the head of the region Andrey Chibis.
Recall that the issue of gasification of the region turned into a practical plane after the meeting of Governor Andrei Chibis with Russian President Vladimir Putin last summer: the head of state supported the initiative of the region. In accordance with Vladimir Putin's instructions, Gazprom is working on issues of gas supply to consumers in the region. Under the terms of the agreement signed today, the government of the Murmansk region will develop a forecast fuel and energy balance of the region. Gazprom will adjust the General Scheme of gas supply to the region and determine the best option for its gasification. Currently, the company is collecting initial data for the design of the Volkhov – Murmansk main gas pipeline.
In addition, in the presence of Alexey Miller, a cooperation agreement was signed between PJSC TGC-1 and the Murmansk Region. The document provides, in particular, the creation of conditions for the transfer of regional generating facilities of PJSC TGC-1 – Apatitskaya CHP and heat supply sources of Murmansk CHP – from coal and fuel oil to natural gas.
An agreement on cooperation between the region and Gazprom Helium Service was also signed at the SPIEF site.
"As part of the study of the issue of gas supply and gasification of the Murmansk region, it is also planned to consider the possibilities of developing a comprehensive infrastructure for the production, storage, transportation and consumption of liquefied natural gas in the region. On the sidelines of the forum, we are concluding comprehensive agreements with Gazprom companies to implement all the measures that will be required for the Murmansk Region to stop being oil–dependent and switch to gas," Andrei Chibis stressed.
It should be noted that a number of companies operating in the Murmansk region have already announced their needs and readiness to create new production facilities for gasification of the region.
/ Ministry of Information Policy of the Murmansk Region /