OAO Gazprom is the largest supplier of natural gas in the world, with approximately 20% of the world gas production. It was established as a joint stock company in 1993 and is partly owned by the Russian state (51%). Core activities are gas exploration, production, transportation, processing, and marketing.

Gazprom controls almost 60% of the Russian gas reserves and produces about 90% of Russian natural gas. The company is responsible for 8% of Russia’s GDP. Gazprom provides about 20% of earnings to the federal budget and supplies gas to generate around 50% of electricity in Russia.

Gazprom has the leading expertise in the construction and operation of pipelines. It controls a 156,000 km-long pipeline network. The capacity of the grid is 650 bcm per annum.

One of its most challenging and successful projects was the construction of the Blue Stream subsea pipeline in difficult conditions under the Black Sea in 2001—2005. The pipeline was built in partnership with Eni-Snam. Blue Stream is a 24 inch double line pipeline with a length of 386 km. It is laid at depths of up to 2150 m and is the world’s deepest pipeline. Its design capacity is 16 bcm pa.

Nord Stream is one of the major gas export pipeline projects of Gazprom. Gazprom has concentrated its best available resources on implementing this important project.

Link:
http://www.gazprom.com