GAZPROM HOPES TO KNOW ABOUT GEORGIA, AZERBAIJAN’S GAS IMPORT PLANS

ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
December 20, 2006 Wednesday

Russia’s gas giant hopes to get information in the near future on
how much gas Georgia and Azerbaijan want to import in 2007, Gazprom
spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov told journalists on Wednesday.

"It is too little time before the end of the year and we have to
coordinate our gas balance for 2007 to cover guarantee obligations
to our consumers," he said.

He said Gazprom hopes that a gas pipeline in Georgia that transports
Russian gas to Armenia will be repaired as soon as possible after an
avalanche damaged it on Sunday. Otherwise this disruption may create
a dangerous gas shortage in Armenia.

Gazprom maintains talks with Belarus on evaluation of the Beltransgaz
national gas transport and distribution company.

Kupriyanov said Gazprom’s gas export price for Belarus has already
been announced and the latter will import gas at a market price.

Gazprom does not rule out that the two parties may agree that gas
exports may be paid for not only by monetary funds, but also by
Beltransgaz’ securities, Prime-Tass said.

The company’s spokesman pointed out that Gazprom hopes all agreements
will be signed before the end of the year.