A Gazprom delegation led by Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Company’s Management Committee, is participating in the 24th World Gas Conference being held in Buenos Aires (Argentina) on October 5–9.

As part of the Conference, Alexey Miller met with heads of a number of global energy companies, as well as with businessmen and politicians from WGC member countries.

In particular, Alexey Miller had a working meeting with Oscar Coca, the Bolivian Energy Minister and Carlos Villegas, President of the Bolivian state-owned Petroliferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB).

The parties gave a high appreciation to the progress with the cooperation between Gazprom and Bolivia’s energy companies and confirmed their mutual aspiration to the strategic partnership deepening.

It was noted that the General Scheme for the Bolivian gas industry’s development was being worked out by Gazprom VNIIGAZ in line with the schedule.

Alexey Miller had a meeting with Gerard Mestrallet, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GDF SUEZ and Jean-Francois Cirelli, Vice-Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of GDF SUEZ.

The parties paid special attention to the development prospects for the mutually beneficial cooperation, namely, to the expanded interaction in supplies of Russian gas to France as well as to the potential entry of GDF SUEZ into the Nord Stream project as a shareholder.

Alexey Miller and Daniel Saba, President of Perupetro discussed the possible ways to execute joint projects in the energy and sci-tech sectors.

Alexey Miller and Hassan Marican, President and Chief Executive Officer of Petronas stressed the successful practice of cooperation in swap deals and looked at the possible cooperation within the Yamal LNG project and the Eastern Gas Program including gas chemical projects.

Background:

Established on a triennial basis under the aegis of the International Gas Union (IGU), the World Gas Conference (WGC) brings together top managers from leading oil and gas companies, ministers, most reputed researchers from international energy organizations and private companies, universities and research institutes.

The World Gas Exhibition (WGE) is taking place simultaneously with the WGC. It demonstrates the cutting-edge technologies and products of the energy and associated sectors.

The 24th World Gas Conference is being held on October 5–9, 2009 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The Conference involves the following events:

- 7 plenary sessions;

- 14 keynote addresses by heads of top global oil and gas companies and associations;

- 9 strategic panels to be attended by top managers of the biggest gas companies;

- 23 sessions of the IGU’s Working (WOC) and Programme (PGC) Committees;

- a session of the Task Force on Gas Market Integration;

- 18 expert forums;

- a poster session.

The IGU was established in 1931 to promote the gas industry development in the world.

With 72 charter and 30 associate members, the IGU amalgamates now the gas associations and companies from 71 countries, which produce 95 per cent of natural gas in the world.

The International Gas Union is a non-governmental and non-commercial organization, which is a major centre of the gas industry for the analysis and promotion of its world-wide experience.

The Council is the main ruling body of the IGU and meets at least once a year. Each IGU charter member is represented in the Council by one delegate.

Russia has been a member of the IGU since 1957. Gazprom is a charter member of the IGU representing Russia.