The Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) held its 40th monthly lecture recently (October 30) with guest speaker Vitaly Markelov, deputy chairman of the Management Committee of Gazprom, introducing Gazprom as a global energy company and the Russian natural gas giant’s “Strategy for Excellence”.
The Russian Federation is one of the Forum’s founding member countries with an extensive portfolio as regards to the natural gas industry. 
As per the new 2019 edition of the GECF Annual Statistical Bulletin, based on the primary source data received from the GECF Member Countries, Russia holds a volume exceeding 47.5tn cubic metres of proven natural gas reserves. 
The country is the second largest producer of natural gas in the world with a marketed production of more than 700bn cubic metres (bcm) in 2018.
As the major strategic document – the Energy Strategy 2035 – highlights, in order to keep up the positive development of the national industry, the gas production has to reach 795-820 bcm by 2024, and 850-924 bcm by 2035. 
These endeavours are to be made mainly by the major national giant, Gazprom, which has explicably showcased its impressing capacities and leadership position as a global energy company.
In his intervention, Markelov explored the company’s contribution to the energy security of the Russian Federation. 
He stressed that being committed to the pledge of increasing the production volumes, Gazprom produced 497.6 bcm of gas in 2018. This is 5.7% (or 26.6 bcm) more than that in 2017. 
In terms of gas export, a record volume of 201.8 bcm was achieved in 2018, exceeding the previous year’s result is 3.8% (or 7.4 bcm). 
Meanwhile, in yet another accomplishment, the volume of gas supplies to Europe and Gazprom’s share in the European gas market have reached maximum values.
The speaker also updated the audience on the meaningful progress recorded in the implementation of such unique projects – both in scale and importance – as the Nord Stream 2, the Turkish Stream, and Power of Siberia, the Northern Gas Transport Corridor.  
The TurkStream gas pipeline, which runs from Russia to Europe to supply gas to Gazprom’s main customers via 2 lines of the throughput capacity of 15.75bn cubic metres each, is expected to be brought into operation by the end of the year, prior to the anticipated date. 
Moreover, gas supplies from Russia to China will begin via the unique Power of Siberia gas pipeline again this December. 
In terms of its technical parameters and significance for the global gas transportation system, this project occupies an outstanding place among all cross-border gas transmission systems. This is termed as a “gas route” between the world’s largest exporter and one of the world’s largest consumers. 
Summarising the outstanding achievements, Markelov stressed that this is not a “low-hanging fruit”, but the results of consistent, tireless work, made by the company’s leadership and staff. 
Apart from gas export, the Gazprom group of companies lead gasification of the Russia’s regions, stepping up its activity in the LNG market and such emerging, yet promising, areas as hydrogen and blue hydrogen.
Environmental risk management is a critical activity for Gazprom. The company is committed to environmentally responsible business, implementing breakthrough (advanced and brand-new) technologies, greenhouse gas accounting, and continuous improving of its operating processes. 
The company’s products have the lowest carbon footprint among that of the world’s largest oil and gas companies.
A strong emphasis is placed on developing the natural gas engines market, given its unique combination of environmental, economic and technological advantages. 
Gazprom is accelerating the conversion of its own vehicles to natural gas engines, while more than 52% of Gazprom’s fleet is already running on gas. 
The company is actively developing gas filling infrastructure in Russia and abroad, promoting the “Eco Gas” brand.
GECF secretary general Dr Yury Sentyurin said that based on scientifically grounded researches, the GECF shares the Gazprom’s positive approach towards natural gas vehicles (NGVs) and expects the transport sector to give a new start and provide large-scale application for natural gas over the next 50 years. 
“In order to shed a light on the matter, our organisation has initiated several exploration projects. One of those – on the LNG usage in the transport sector and bunkering – is to be carried out at the newly-launched GECF Gas Research Institute platform,” he said.
To build the momentum, Gazprom has launched and is successfully running a project of annual large-scale international NGV rallies. The “Blue Corridor – Gas into Engines” rallies started in 2008 and have already involved more than 30 countries of the world. 
This is a matter of a particular importance, that the 2020 route starts from Doha, passes through Tehran and Baku, and finishes in St Petersburg, Russia. 
By this way, the rally is set to embrace four of the GECF member countries, promoting the NGV performance.
Sentyurin lauded fruitful and benevolent co-operative ties between the Forum and Gazprom, saying “it is with great value that alongside with the positive results already recorded, there are emerging yet landmark joint projects to be implemented soon.” “Namely, the NGV rally, which with no doubt will win a great success once carried out.”
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