Gazprom: press release of 8 January 2009

Gazprom delegation visits Brussels

Today OAO Gazprom’s delegation headed by the Company’s Management Committee Chairman Alexey Miller made a visit to Brussels.

During the visit Alexey Miller met with the President of the European Commission Josй Manuel Barroso, Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs, President of the European Parliament Hans-Gert Pцttering.

Alexey Miller has informed leaders of the European Union and European Commission about current crisis with transit of Russian gas through the territory of Ukraine to Europe and about reasons of this crisis.

The major question discussed during these meetings was a set of measures to resume transmission of Russian gas through the territory of Ukraine at the earliest possible time. A principle agreement was reached on Multilateral Committee of independent observers to be placed at gas metering stations of Ukrainian gas transmission system.

“As soon as international observers are placed at facilities of the Ukrainian gas transmission system, Ukraine will have to resume Russian gas transit to Europe immediately,” stated Alexey Miller.

OAO Gazprom Management Committee Chairman stressed that placement of independent observers will provide for gas deliveries to Europe in full.

“We have addressed the companies consuming Russian gas, asking them to take part in the international Committee of independent observers. We have received positive replies from ten companies. We propose that Energy Ministries of Russia and Ukraine, as well as representatives from European Commission participate in the Committee. W have signed an appropriate protocol and presented it to the European Commission leadership,” told Alexey Miller.

Addressing the results of the visit, Alexey Miller emphasized that Gazprom was taking every means to immediately settle the crisis around Russian gas transit through Ukraine. However, the protocol on the creation of the Committee of observers had not been signed by the European Commission and had been opposed to by the Ukrainian party.

“The Ukrainian party has rejected the creation of Multilateral Committee of observers with participation of Gazprom, Russian Energy Ministry, specialized auditing companies and Russian gas purchasers, and insisted on the participation of the Ukrainian party and the European Commission only. We call on all participants to coordinate their positions as soon as possible and to take every step to resume gas supplies to Europe,” told Alexey Miller.

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Protocol on establishment of International expert commission on transit of natural gas through the territory of Ukraine - Brussels 8 January 2009

With the aim to ensure energy security of Europe and reliable transit of natural gas through the territory of Ukraine the Parties to this Protocol have agreed the following:

1. To establish an International expert commission on transit of natural gas through the territory of Ukraine (hereinafter referred to as "Commission") consisting of representatives of Ministry of energy of Russia, Ministry of fuel and energy of Ukraine, European Commission and gas producers, purchasers, transporters and independent experts-

2. Each Party appoints one representative to the Commission and notifies other Parties about such appointment.

3. Commission is established to perform the following functions and tasks:

 Control of performance of contractual obligations on transit of natural gas through the territory of Ukraine;

 Monitoring of technical state of gas transport system (GTS) of Ukraine, including underground gas storages (UGS), located on the territory of Ukraine;

 Consideration of other issues and elaboration of recommendations and proposals on optimization of transit of natural gas through the territory of Ukraine.

4. Commission, and its representatives are vested hereby with authorities necessary for fulfillment of above mentioned aims, functions and tasks, including with an authority of free access to documents and objects of GTS of Ukraine, including UGSs of Ukraine.

5. After the formation of the Commission is completed, the Commission will determine the order of its further activity.

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