Gazprom places orders for new technology

Gazprom and its subsidiaries have made orders for a newly designed natural gas pump, GTNR 16. A model of the new technology which runs at 16-megawatt capacity was produced by the freely traded company Nevsky Zavod. Analogous pumps manufactured by western

<BR>Gazprom and its subsidiaries have made orders for a newly designed natural gas pump, GTNR 16. A model of the new technology which runs at 16-megawatt capacity was produced by the freely traded company Nevsky Zavod. Analogous pumps manufactured by western companies cost approximately $4.5-4.75 million. <BR>At present gas pumps utilized in Russia have a capacity of 9-10 megawatts. According to general director Evgeny Mirnov, Nevsky Zavod has produced about 800 machines which are now in operation. Leningrad Metal Works (LMZ) is also planning to renew production of 16-megawatt units. Furthermore, the price of domestically produced pumps is expected to amount to only 70-80% of the price of ones manufactured abroad. <BR>According to Aleksandr Lebedev, chief gas turbine constructor at LMZ, this is possible due to cheaper materials available and the use of clearings as a method of payment.