In 2008 Belarus Fulfilled All Obligations on Russian Gas Transit

As is reported by the press service of “Beltransgaz”, at the enlarged meeting the directorate of the public corporation “Beltransgaz” summarized the work of the company in 2008. According to the results, in 2008 Belarusian consumers were provided with continuous gas delivery. The gas-transport system (GTS) of Beltransgaz received 21.1 billion m3 of natural gas for the needs of the Republic of Belarus which is 102.4% against last year’s level and 97.7% with respect to the target.

As is reported by the press service of “Beltransgaz”, at the enlarged meeting the directorate of the public corporation “Beltransgaz” summarized the work of the company in 2008. According to the results, in 2008 Belarusian consumers were provided with continuous gas delivery. The gas-transport system (GTS) of Beltransgaz received 21.1 billion m³ of natural gas for the needs of the Republic of Belarus which is 102.4% against last year’s level and 97.7% with respect to the target.

In 2008 Belarusian party fulfilled all obligations on transit of Russian gas in accordance with the contract between Beltransgaz and Gazprom of 31.12.2006. In the reporting year the volume of natural gas transit has increased by 3.8% against the year 2007 and amounted to 51.3 billion m³ and with respect to the target has grown by 6.2%. Thus, Beltransgaz GTS pumped 18.5 billion m³ of natural gas (101.1% against the year 2007 and 119.2% with respect to the target) while “Yamal-Europe” GTS – 32.8 billion m³ (105.5% against the year 2007 and100% with respect to the target).

In order to complete the 1^st stage of construction of Mozyr underground storage facility (USF) building and assembly jobs were carried out in 2008. The necessary tests were conducted in corpore as well as the first pumping of 60 million m³ of gas. At the end of the year the total volume of active capacity of gas storing in all Belarusian USF amounted to 870 million m³, which is almost a third as much against the year 2007.

Intratubal diagnostics of all gas-main and transit gas pipelines was completed in 2008 as well. All main gas pipelines work in design conditions and at operation pressures.

In 2008 public corporation “Beltransgaz” improved its economic indicators and financial results.

The key objectives for the year 2009 are:

- provision of continuous gas delivery to Belarusian consumers and transit deliveries of Russian gas in accordance with contractual obligations;

- further construction of Mozyr underground storage facility in order to increase the level of maximum current yield from “Beltransgaz” GTS;

- GTS reliability improvement owing to the repairs of inadmissible defects stated by the intratubal diagnostics;

- maintenance of financial stability and solvency of the corporation thanks to optimization of gas pipeline operation expenses and strengthening of pay discipline.