Moscow keeps hosting the National Oil and Gas Forum, which is primarily aimed at setting the agenda for Russian oil and gas industry leaders. Viktor Zubkov, Chairman of the Gazprom Board of Directors took part in the Forum.

In his address to the Forum, Viktor Zubkov noted that at the moment Russian oil and gas industry was facing large-scale tasks, including the Arctic shelf development, the gas industry expansion in Eastern Siberia and the Far East and reinforcing cooperation with Asia-Pacific countries.

New production projects create favorable conditions for increasing Russian gas supplies, also in the form of LNG, to foreign markets. Meanwhile, according to Viktor Zubkov, it is necessary for Gazprom to retain its exclusive right to export gas. “I think it's essential to preserve the rules already fixed by the law,” said the Chairman of the Company's Board of Directors.

Among the most promising lines of the Russian gas industry development is wider use of natural gas as a motor fuel. In this context, special attention was given to real support measures required for the NGV market development. This work may be accelerated through the attraction of necessary financing. “Gazprom is now creating a powerful program jointly with Gazprombank and is ready to convert motor vehicles to natural gas in Russian regions,” Viktor Zubkov stated.

In the meantime, Chairman of the Gazprom Board of Directors stressed that the program execution wouldn't be possible without state support. According to his words, natural gas-powered vehicles are subsidized in the USA and subsidies are allocated for technical re-equipment in Canada, and there are varied support measures in other countries as well. As for Gazprom, the Company is preparing a draft Russian Government Directive to promote the use of natural gas as a motor fuel.