Today, at Gazprom's central office, a working meeting took place between Chairman of the Management Committee Alexey Miller and the Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic Djoomart Otorbaev.

It was noted that in the short time since Gazprom Kyrgyzstan became part of the Gazprom Group, the sides' interaction has brought significant results. In particular, Gazprom has begun supplying the republic with natural gas and has also carried out comprehensive repair and maintenance work on the country's gas network. This will guarantee an uninterrupted supply of gas to consumers, even during peak periods.

As Gazprom's Information Policy Department reports, during the meeting the sides examined the potential for collaboration in a wide range of areas. It was emphasised that in 2015, as part of the investment programme approved by Gazprom when it acquired KyrgyzgazProm, the company plans to make considerable investments in the development of the republic's gas sector. This will also help to create a more convenient system of tariffs for consumers.

The participants in the meeting also discussed the phased exploration programme at the prospective Kugart and East Maylisu IV areas. The prospects for Gazprom's participation in the development of the Kyrgyz Republic's oil-products and electrical-energy market were also discussed.

Another item on the agenda concerned the development of Kyrgyzstan's gas-transmission and distribution infrastructure. It was noted that the republic's current infrastructure is in a very poor state of repair. For this reason, Gazprom is developing a General Plan for the supply and distribution of gas in the country by 2030. The document allows for large-scale reconstruction and modernisation of gas-transmission capacities, underground storage facilities, and gas distribution. Special note was given to Gazprom's role in organising an autonomous supply of gas to the southern regions of Kyrgyzstan, as well as in preparing pre-investment research into the construction of the North-South gas pipeline.

It was pointed out that Gazprom Kyrgyzstan's integration into the Gazprom Group would increase the company's productivity and business efficiency, as well as its employees' level of social security.

REFERENCE

On 10 April 2014, Gazprom and Kyrgyzgaz signed a Contract for the Sale and Purchase of a 100% stake in the charter capital of KyrgyzgazProm (renamed Gazprom Kyrgyzstan), which was then a 100%-owned subsidiary of Kyrgyzgaz.

Gazprom Kyrgyzstan is the exclusive importer of natural gas to Kyrgyzstan and the owner of the republic's gas-transmission and distribution systems.

In 2007, Gazprom and the government of Kyrgyzstan signed an Agreement on the Geological Exploration of Subsoil, giving Gazprom two licences to exploit the Kugart and East Maylisu IV sites. This geological project is being implemented in Kyrgyzstan by Gazprom International, the sole specialised operator of Gazprom's upstream projects outside the Russian Federation.

Kyrgyzstan's proven reserves of natural gas are estimated at 6 billion m³. The republic extracts around 30 million m³ of its own natural gas per year. Annual gas consumption is around 300 million m³, of which 90% is imported from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.