Gazprom releases data on consumer debt

The debt of Russian consumers for the gas supplied by the Gazprom gas holding, exceeds RUR45bn (about $1.43bn). This data was released at a meeting of the holding management with the company's affiliates, which had taken place on August 6, 2002, the press service of Gazprom reported. They also pointed out that Gazprom was pressed for floating assets for solving current as well as future tasks.

The participants of the meeting discussed in detail the program for launching additional capacities for producing, transporting and storing gas underground. Special attention was paid to the preparation for the upcoming winter, the implementation of plans of overhauling basic production assets and reconstructing the Unified Gas Supply System facilities.

The participants of the meeting decided to consolidate resources at the most important facilities, which provided an increase in the reliability of gas supplies to Russian and foreign consumers. The heads of Gazprom and its affiliates were given a task to timely perform the planned preparation of all the facilities of the Unified Gas Supply System for operating in winter.

Summing up the results of the meeting, acting Gazprom CEO Alexander Ananenkov pointed to the necessity of producing and supplying 520 billion cubic meters of gas this year. He also described the investment policy of the holding for 2003 in detail.

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