Yakutia head: gasification decisions must account for real project economics

Aisen Nikolaev, head of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) and chair of the State Council's energy commission, spoke at a discussion held at the Russian Energy Week international forum on balancing economics and regional specifics in the social gasification programme. He said building one kilometre of gas pipeline in permafrost and low temperatures can cost two to three times the national average.

Yakutia ranks fourth among Russian regions in implementing the programme and first in the Far East. Since 2021, more than 13,000 homes have been gasified across eight municipal districts and two urban districts, with potential for more than 14,000 additional homes by 2030, mainly in Southern Yakutia. Gazprom has begun working directly with residents, and the first settlements near the Power of Siberia pipeline have received gas.

Nikolaev said further gasification must be economically justified. A gas supply and gasification scheme through 2046 and an updated fuel-energy balance through 2030 are being developed, and some settlements may need coal or liquefied natural gas instead of pipelines.