The chairman of Gazprom’s board of directors Viktor Zubkov said that the concern relies on companies from the defense industry.

Gazprom relies on the Russian defense industry to develop technologies and equipment for offshore operations, the chairman of Gazprom’s board of directors Viktor Zubkov said while taking part in launching the Leaders of Russia competition in Rostov-on-Don on December 11, 2017.

“We did not have all of these technologies [for gas production at sea]. Now, through the association of Russian companies that are developing equipment for Gazprom and with the involvement of defense sector companies, we are creating these technologies. We need to get all the thinking, all research, all development knowhow to produce on deep shelves,” Zubkov said.

He explained that the technology and equipment necessary for Gazprom’s offshore projects are available in other countries, but the company does not have access to that knowhow anymore because of the situation on the world stage. “We just cannot buy this technology. Gazprom is undertaking big efforts in the area of import substitution,” Zubkov said.

Gazprom is working with Russian companies for several years. For example, in early September, the Tomsk Electromechanical Plant (TEMZ) launched the production of the equipment that will be used in the operation of the Power of Siberia gas pipeline, one of the largest in Gazprom’s system. On December 1, Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat launched a plant in Bashkortostan for the production of acrylic acid and butyl acrylate. The new enterprise is expected to fulfill Russia’s demand for these materials and obviate the need to purchase these substances from abroad.