A working meeting between Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee and Igor Petrishenko, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to the Russian Federation took place today as part of the XIII International Investment Forum “Sochi-2014”.
The parties discussed the current state and development prospects for the cooperation between Russia and Belarus in the gas sector. It was pointed out that Gazprom Transgaz Belarus, a subsidiary company of Gazprom, secured uninterrupted gas supply and transit and was a major tax payer in the Republic. This speaks for the strategic nature of the mutually beneficial cooperation between Russia and Belarus and helps in facing the future positively.
Special focus was placed on the preparations for the 2014–2015 autumn-winter periods. Gas transmission facilities are being upgraded and overhauled in compliance with the set schedule. The work is underway on replenishing gas reserves in underground storages. Before the withdrawal season starts, the company is going to increase the operating reserve of marketable gas to 1.035 billion cubic meters in Belarusian UGS facilities, which is 12.5 per cent more than in 2013. The completion of these major works will help Gazprom to smoothly get through the heating season and fully supply Belarusian consumers with natural gas in the coming winter.
The meeting participants also addressed Gazprom's social projects in the Republic. For instance, Minsk hosted one out of two zonal rounds of Gazprom Neft Cup, Europe's major International KHL Tournament among Children's Hockey Teams this April. The remarkable and memorable event was a real present both for the participants and for the rooters.
The company actively participates in projects aimed at early disease detection and urgent treatment of children. For instance, special-purpose equipment is being donated to medical centers within the program for early detection of hearing disorders.
Moreover, thanks to Gazprom's financial aid the reconstruction of the Brest Fortress memorial was completed and the new exhibition was opened to honor the 70th Anniversary of Liberation of the Republic of Belarus.