Russia's state-controlled gas export monopoly Gazprom plans to nearly double its European underground gas storage facilities by 2015 to 4.9 billion cubic meters, Gazprom said on Thursday.
"Successful implementation of the ... projects will help Gazprom significantly boost its European underground gas storage facilities and raise their capacity to 4.9 billion cubic meters of active gas and 65.7 million cubic meters of daily output by 2015," the gas giant said in a statement.
In 2006-2010, the capacities expanded to 2.5 bcm from 1.4 bcm, while daily output rose to 30 million cubic meters from 18.2 million cubic meters.
Gazprom operates gas storage facilities in Austria, and leases facilities in Britain, Germany and France.
"Gazprom's board has decided it is reasonable to increase capacities of underground gas storage facilities abroad to no less than 5% of annual exports before 2030 with the creation of own capacities as a priority," Gazprom said.
Gazprom is working on launching the second stage of the Haidach storage facilities in Austria to increase its capacities to 2.8 bcm from 1.3 bcm. Haidach supports Russian gas supplies to the Baumgarten gas hub, and for consumers in Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, Austria, Germany, Slovakia and Italy.
In Germany, Gazprom, jointly with VNG, is building Katarina storage with an installed capacity of 629 million cubic meters. Katarina will support gas exports to Western European hubs of Mallnow, Waidhaus, Gaspool, NCG and via the Nord Stream pipeline.
Gazprom and Serbijagaz have jointly built Banatsky Dvor storage facility, which will support Russian gas exports to Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In the Netherlands, Gazprom plans to get 1.9 bcm storage volume in Bergermeer Gas Storage. Bergermeer is expected to maintain work of the Nord Stream pipeline.
Gazprom is also carrying out feasibility studies on joint storage projects in the Czech Republic, France, Romania, Belgium, Britain, Slovakia, Turkey, Greece and other countries.
MOSCOW, February 10 (RIA Novosti)
