Kovykta and Chayanda gas might create separate export center - Putin
NOVO-OGAREVO. Oct 29 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that gas reserves at fields in Yakutia and the Irkutsk Region will help form a center for exports in the Asia-Pacific Region.
During a meeting with OJSC Gazprom's CEO, Alexei Miller, on Monday, Putin said that two centers of production have been developed in Kamchatka and Sakhalin in the framework of the gas company's Eastern gas program.
"We've now reached the next stage of the Eastern gas program, the start of work to develop fields in Yakutia and Irkutsk region. These are Chayanda and Kovytka," Putin said.
He added that these are major fields in terms of their reserves. Putin said that, according to agreements, there is a plan to develop new transport options after the start of operations. This would be at least two pipeline systems.
"I would also like to remind you that an agreement has been reached, where gas from these fields will primarily go to internal needs and domestic consumption but, bearing in mind that these are enormous reserves at three trillion cubic meters plus in gas, it would be possible to create and an additional center for export, largely focused on the Asia Pacific Region," the president said.
Putin added that Gazprom should develop a program in this area for liquefied natural gas.
At the start of the meeting, Putin congratulated Miller with the commission of the Bovanenkovo field and made a proposal to discuss the development of Gazprom's Eastern gas program.