Gazprombank could replace Gazprom in Namibia's Kudu project
MOSCOW. Nov 18 (Interfax) - The Kudu integrated project on gas production and the construction of a gas turbine station in Namibia could pass to Gazprombank after the Gazprom manager who personally oversaw the project was transferred to the bank, the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation said.
Earlier this year, Gazprombank expressed interest in participating in the project after Gazprom EP International left it. The decision on a new partner in the project could be finalized by the middle of December. Gazprombank was given the deadline in order to either commit itself to working with Namcor, or for Namcor to search for a different partner, the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation said.
This year, changes were made in the management team of Gazprom's international production block. Operating in parallel Gazprom EP International and CJSC Gazprom Zarubezhneftegaz merged under the management of Valery Gulev. Boris Ivanov left Gazprom EP to concentrate on commodity projects of Gazprombank's subsidiary GPB Neftegas Services BV.
The Kudu project involves developing the Kudu gas field on the Namibian shelf and creating a gas transport system for delivering gas to a gas turbine station with a capacity of 800 MW, which will also be constructed under the project. The project also involves selling electricity to the domestic market, as well as the possibility of exporting it to South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Angola. The Kudu field's reserves are estimated at roughly 50 billion cubic meters of gas.