Industry and Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko and Gazprom have different views on the development of Kovykta.
Photo: Dmitry Dukhanin
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Authorities Ready to Bankroll TNK-BP’s Pipeline Project
Russian authorities have endorsed TNK-BP’s application to finance the construction of a gas pipeline running from the Kovykta gas field to the city of Irkutsk. There is still a governmental commission to have the final say. Gazprom opposes the plan, but it may change its mind after acquiring a stake in Kovykta.
“The gasification plan for Irkutsk Region based on reserves of the Kovykta gas field meets all the requirements to receive financing from the state investment fund”, the Industry and Energy Ministry told Kommersant on Tuesday. Under TNK-BP’s early estimates, the project will gasify 11 districts of the regions, which is 60 percent of the area.
In February, TNK-BP announced plans to ask for 12.8 million rubles from the investment fund to bankroll the construction of the Kovykta-Sayansk-Irkutsk gas pipeline. The state is to pay for half of the project.
TNK-BP controls the Kovykta field in Irkutsk Region with 1.5 trillion cu. meters of gas reserves.
A commission which includes representatives of other ministries is now to give the final decision. However, it is the Industry and Energy Ministry as well as Gazprom that is now drafting the gasification strategy for Eastern Siberia and Far East. The plan is to be discussed on Thursday, Deputy Industry and Energy Minister Anatoly Yanovsky told Kommersant.
Gazprom is opposing plans to build a pipeline from Kovykta to Irkutsk, saying that small and medium-size gas fields will be enough to supply the region with gas.
Industry experts say that the Russian gas monopolist is likely to change its stance after buying TNK-BP’s stake in Kovykta – a deal that Gazprom and TNK-BP are now negotiating.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Mar. 21, 2007
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