Gazprom to invest substantially more in Kyrgyzstan than planned - Miller
BISHKEK. Jan 30 (Interfax) - Russian gas giant Gazprom will invest 34 billion rubles in Kyrgyzstan over the next three years, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said at a meeting of Kyrgyzstan's government on Friday.
"We initially assumed the responsibility of investing 20 billion rubles, but we saw that initial activities demand investments that are much more substantial, so we decided to invest in all activities in full," he said.
Miller added that these initial activities make up Gazprom's 2015-2017 investment program.
"Investments in the reconstruction and construction of gas supply facilities in Kyrgyzstan over the three year period will total 34 billion rubles, or 45 billion som. Overall investments in Kyrgyzstan will increase and be 70% more than initially [planned] in the coming three years," he said.
Miller also said that these activities would be carried out as part of a general plan for gasification and gas supplies until 2030. This plan was approved by Kyrgyzstan's government on Friday.
"Today we set a goal with the Kyrgyz government to triple Kyrgyzstan's gasification over the course of 15 years, and this figure will grow to 60% from 22% by 2030," Miller said.
He added that during this period, Gazprom is aiming to "rebuild, modernize and build trunk gas pipelines, gas pipeline branches, gas distribution stations and an autonomous gasification network. In addition, the company wants to build inter-settlement and settlement gas pipelines.
"This is a well founded and realistic goal. Work will be carried out in seven of the republic's regions. This is a clear-cut program, and Gazprom is assuming the responsibility of closely financing all activities in the announced amount," Miller said, adding that he was counting on the support of Kyrgyzstan's government on issues concerning Gazprom's work in the republic.
"We are making breakthrough decisions together with Gazprom. Our country will be gasified. Overall gasification will triple by 2030, and 60% of the population and companies will have gas. Consumption will grow fivefold and exceed 1 billion cubic meters per year," First Vice Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Dzhoomart Otorbayev told journalists after the meeting.
"One of the very best systems in the world will be created [in Kyrgyzstan]. Gazprom is entering Kyrgyzstan with an ambitious program," he added.
In addition, a protocol between Gazprom and the Kyrgyz government was signed on Friday. The protocol envisions cooperation in expanding the natural gas market, motor fuel in particular, within Kyrgyzstan.
Gazprom is currently Kyrgyzstan's only gas supplier. According to the approved investment program to 2030, existing networks and systems in the republic will be modernized and rebuilt, and a new trunk gas pipeline from the north to the south of Kyrgyzstan will be built.