Gazprom, Kazakhstan sign memorandum on new gas pipeline project

MOSCOW. Oct 9 (Interfax) - Russia's state-owned energy company Gazprom (MOEX: GAZP and the government of Kazakhstan have signed a memorandum of understanding to build a new gas pipeline from Russia to Kazakhstan, Gazprom said in a statement.

The memorandum was signed during a working meeting between Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller and Kazakh First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar.

The parties emphasized their commitment to long-term cooperation, noting Kazakhstan's increasing demand for natural gas.

They also signed a long-term agreement setting out the terms and conditions for processing Kazakh gas in Russia. The document formalizes cooperation on processing gas from the Karachaganak field at the Orenburg Gas Processing Plant, which is slated for modernization.

Miller also held a working meeting of with Kyrgyzstan's energy minister, Taalaibek Ibrayev. "They discussed current and prospective issues of cooperation in the gas sector, in particular the supply of Russian gas to the republic and efforts by Gazprom Kyrgyzstan LLC to preparation gas transmission and gas distribution systems in Kyrgyzstan for the autumn-winter period," the press release says.

In addition, Miller met with the Pakistani Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik. "The parties discussed promising areas of cooperation in the gas industry. In the presence of Alexei Miller and Ali Pervaiz Malik, a memorandum of understanding was signed with Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (Pakistan)," the information says.