Gazprom Opens Department to Increase Technological Independence

Gazprom increased its efforts to rely on domestic technology, setting up a new department aimed at increasing efficiency and promoting new products for the oil and gas industry. 

‘The department will be in charge of implementing the Gazprom corporate unified technical policy in search, creation and introduction of state-of-the-art solutions, equipment and materials acknowledged worldwide, including substitutes of their non-domestic counterparts, with a view to secure the company’s technological independence’ reads a note released on Tuesday.

Vitaly Markelov, Deputy Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee, will be in charge of the new office.

As reported earlier this month, the company is changing its approach to Europe - it is no longer eager to access downstream, plans to sell its gas at the EU’s border and repatriated its head trading office from London to Saint Petersburg. 

On Tuesday, the company said it will increase gas exports to Europe by 5 to 8 percent to 160 billion cubic meters in the next three years, and thus remain the largest gas supplier in the Continent.