Beginning in 2005 Gazprom Will Rely on Russian Tubemakers

Russian oil and gas giant Gazprom intends to sign a memorandum with Russian producers of tubes 'for questions of developing cooperation on the foundation of producing progressive types of tube products with the goal of import substitution by 2010,' said a spokesperson for Gazprom at a joint conference of the Deputy Director of Gazprom Alexander Ananenkov with representatives of Russian tube companies on April 29. The initiator of the conference was Gazprom subsidiary and open joint stock company Gazkomplektimpeks, metallurgic tubes and union of metallurgic companies.

During the course of the conference, perspectives for cooperation between Gazprom and domestic tube companies were valued taking into account investment plans of the gas concern, plans for increasing the volume of extraction of gas, and also 'complex programs of reconstruction and technical reequipment of objects of gas transportation for the period up to 2006.' Representatives of companies confirmed at the conference their readiness to invest in private and attractive means in the reconstruction of old and organization of new capacity.

Ananenkov said that Gazprom further intends to orient on Russian producers of tubes. He was also interested in the first place in the technological and technical possibilities of the tubing companies, and also in their plans for organizing new production. He said that until 2005 Gazprom will have to import large diameter thick-walled tubes, casing tubes with high waterproof threaded connectors and many other products that domestic companies do not produce at the present time. However, beginning in 2005, Gazprom will completely rely on Russian tube companies, said Ananenkov.

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