Gazprom to draft long-term program for Russia and CIS abroad

Russia’s gas monopoly Gazprom plans to draft a long-term program of oil and gas geological survey and production outside of Russia and member countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States in the period up to 2020, the company’s press service said on Tuesday. Gazprom’s Board of Directors gave an instruction to that effect at its Tuesday’s meeting, the press service said.
Northern Africa, Latin America, Western Africa, the Middle East, India, Vietnam and countries of the Asia-Pacific Region were named among the post interesting areas, the press service said. Geological surveys on the Bloc-26 in the Indian offshore zone in the Bay of Bengal, on the Bloc-112 in the Vietnamese offshore area in the Gulf of Tonkin of the South China Sea and blocs Urumaco-I and Urumaco-II in the offshore of Venezuela are the most promising projects, which Gazprom implements outside of Russia and the CIS countries, the press service said. Besides, Gazprom has talks on joining several projects in Venezuela and on being licensed for geological survey in Bolivia, the press service said. The company also studies possibilities for expanding its activity in Western Africa, the press service said, adding that Gazprom can receive shares in foreign projects within the format of the strategic partnership agreement with ENI and other companies.