The Gazprom headquarters hosted today a working meeting between Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Company's Management Committee and Vasily Golubev, Governor of the Rostov Region.

The parties addressed the progress with and the prospects of the cooperation, in particular, the regional gasification issues. Gazprom channeled over RUB 4.2 billion for gasification purposes between 2002 and 2013. The Company built 41 inter-settlement gas pipelines as well as developed and updated a General Gas Supply and Gasification Scheme. Joint efforts of Gazprom and the Rostov Region authorities resulted in a higher gasification level reaching 85.5 per cent across the region. The Company plans to allocate RUB 616 million to extend the gas supply network, carry out project estimates and construct 16 inter-settlement gas pipelines.

Gazprom continuously develops gas transmission capacities across the region. Between 2008 and 2013 the Company retrofitted the line pipes of the Orenburg – Novopskov, the Sokhranovka CS – Oktyabrskaya CS gas trunklines and a gas branch to Millerovo town, as well as built a gas branch to Morozovsk town.

Gazprom gives high priority to developing the infrastructure for South Stream – strategic project aimed at strengthening the European energy security. Gazprom is constructing the Southern Corridor gas pipeline system, also running via the Rostov Region, which is vital for feeding gas to the South Stream gas pipeline as well as for supplying additional gas to the central and southern parts of Russia. Nowadays, the Company is intensely laying a line pipe section of South Stream's western route and is building the Shakhtinskaya compressor station.

In addition, Gazprom plans to upgrade eight gas distribution stations in the region, including those located in Gukovo, Proletarsk, Shakhty and Novoshakhtinsk towns.

The meeting addressed the social projects run by the Company. A professional horse riding school for children was opened in Lopanka settlement (Tselinsky District) as well as 29 modern multi-purpose sports grounds were built as part of the Gazprom for Children Program. Funds will be allocated this year for constructing other 25 sports grounds. Moreover, the Company plans to build four sports & leisure centers (three of them will have fully equipped gyms and swimming pools and another one – an ice arena) in the Rostov Region till 2017.

Alexey Miller confirmed that Gazprom would provide financial support to complete the restoration of the Don River embankment in Rostov-on-Don – the city celebrates its 265th anniversary in 2014.