Some 90% of the gas pipelines built by Gazprom in 2005–2018 as part of the Gas Infrastructure Expansion Program are meant to deliver gas to rural communities. The overall length of these gas pipelines is about 30,000 kilometers. The conditions are now in place for bringing gas to upwards of 752,000 households and over 5,000 boiler houses and enterprises in almost 4,000 villages.
As a result, the gas penetration rate in Russian rural areas grew 1.7-fold over the period, skyrocketing from 34.8% in 2005 to 59.4% (by 24.6%) as of January 1, 2019.
According to the information on the Company’s efforts, gas infrastructure expansion in Russian regions is a priority for Gazprom. This ambitious and socially significant project aims to improve the quality of life in Russian regions and make them more attractive to investors.
In 2019–2020, Gazprom plans to build some 450 facilities (gas pipeline branches, gas distribution stations, and inter-settlement gas pipelines) in rural areas alone. If regional authorities meet their obligations to prepare consumers for gas supplies, natural gas will reach more than 230,000 households in approximately 1,000 inhabited localities.