BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

07/11/2006

Beltransgaz Achieves Max Volumes in Gas Storage

MINSK. Nov 2 (Interfax) - Beltransgaz has stopped pumping gas into underground storage because it has reached the target amount, the company said in a press release.

Specialists from the facilities attended the preparation of gas storage facilities for the withdrawal of gas, according to the press release.

Beltransgaz said that the storage facilities help cover seasonal and peak fluctuations in gas use and offset the interruption in supplies in the event of pipeline spills.

The unevenness in gas consumption in Belarus over the past 10 years ranges from 10% to 15% of annual consumption and reaches 1.9 billion cubic meters. With gas consumption in 2010 - 2030 planned at 20 billion -25 billion cubic meters per year, the seasonal fluctuations are estimated at 3 billion cubic meters, according to the press release.

Beltransgaz operates the Osipovichskoye and Pribugskoye underground storage facilities with capacity of 600 million cubic meters.

The company said the Osipovichskoye facility is fully working and the active volume of gas can't be increased. The Pribugskoye facility is in test production and could reach capacity of 600 million cubic meters eventually.

Beltransgaz began creating the Mozyr underground gas storage facility in salt deposits at Neman combine owned by Belneftekhim. The company expects the Neman facility can create active capacity for 100 million cubic meters in the next couple of years and if the Mozyrsol facility is used this could be increased to 400 million cubic meters. The Mozyr storage facility will eventually be expanded to 1 billion cubic meters.

Belarus will increase its gas pipeline system by 312.6 kilometers this year by building branch lines.

Beltransgaz said it build gas distribution stations and branch lines to Stariye Dorogi, Oktyabrsky, and Sharkovshina.

It is completing pipelines and distribution stations to the towns of Gantsevichi, Miory, Verkhnedvinsk, and Znamenka. Beltruboprovodstroi is the contractor.

Beltransgaz is reconstructing several gas distribution stations to improve the safety and reliability of gas supplies. IT is also reconstructing the Shors-Gomel pipeline and a pipeline to the Dobrush distribution station.

The further development of the gas transport system will improve the effectiveness of Beltransgaz and increase the ability of the main partner - Gazprom, to supply and transport natural gas.

Beltransgaz said it opened 81 branch pipelines in 1994-2005 and gasified 38 towns. It has brought gas supplies to the regions affected by the Chernobyl disaster. Just five of the 118 regional capitals remain without gas - Gansevichi, Miory, Verkhnedvinsk, Rossony, and Berezino. The gasification process will be completed next year with the opening of the pipeline to Berezino.

The gasification program for 2006 - 2010 includes the development of distribution pipelines, including the construction of pipelines to agrarian cities, according to the press release.

Beltransgaz is the gas supply and transit monopoly in Belarus and operates 7,000 kilometers of gas pipelines with diameter ranging from 100 mm - 1400 mm. It transport 60 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year, including 40 billion cubic meters transit.

Source:

http://www.interfax.com/3/210399/news.aspx