The reconstruction is aimed at increasing the working gas volume of the storage complex from 3.4 to 5.5 billion cubic meters. There are also plans to enhance the quality of gas fed from the UGS complex into the gas supply system, to boost the reliability of gas supply to the republic.
Gazprom, which is carrying out the upgrades with Bashtransgaz, added that there are also plans to improve the UGS complex functioning via a higher automation level for production processes, as well as to improve the environmental situation in the republic.
According to the gas giant, natural gas penetration in Bashkiria’s residential sector is at 78.5%, including 90.3% in cities and towns, and 58.2% in rural areas. In 2006, Gazprom supplied the republic with over 16 billion cubic meters of gas and roughly the same volumes are slated for 2007.
In 2007, Gazprom intends to invest RUR500 million in the construction of seven gas pipelines in Bashkortostan, with RUR400 million earmarked in the republican budget for local network construction purposes.
Upgrading the existing and building new UGS facilities is targeted at higher flexibility and reliability of gas supply both to domestic and foreign consumers, said Gazprom’s deputy management committee chairman Alexander Ananenkov.
