Russia 2: Gazprom
A frozen relic of Soviet days
8 July 2006
In Britain, the arrival of Gazprom is so feared that the government started to take legal steps to prevent it from taking over Centrica, and even the Russian energy giant’s acquisition last month of a small Cheshire-based gas supplier, Pennine Natural Gas, provoked hostile headlines. But in Novy Urengoi in northwest Siberia, it is Gazprom’s departure that is most feared.
For this is a company town in the old Soviet style: Gazprom employs 18,000 of the town’s 100,000 inhabitants directly, owns many of the apartment blocks, and supplies the water, electricity, and gas. It owns the roads out into the tundra, the Gazovik (Gas worker) sanatorium and the Gazodobytchik (gas gatherer) sports and cultural centre. Visitors stay in Gazprom hotel. The best restaurant is Gazprom’s Café Sibir. Gazprom workers get discounts in Gazprom shops.
More articles from: Richard Orange | this section
Post this entry to: del.icio.us | Digg | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit
Advertisement
The Spectator Business News Update
Headline shares finish the day in positive territory
09/02/2010Headline shares remain slightly higher at midday
09/02/2010Headline shares slightly higher in early trading
09/02/2010Homeserve delivering strong growth
09/02/2010sponsored links
In this section
Reputations rise and fall, but Lord Richardson deserves a City statue
Martin Vander WeyerHow the brewers of Smethwick became the plaything of Barbados billionaires
Martin Vander WeyerBe thankful for Cheshire salt: at least we don’t have to buy the stuff from Russia
Martin Vander WeyerTaking a stick to the City hasn’t worked, so why not try knighthoods as carrots?
Martin Vander WeyerA decade to forget? No, remember Viagra, the iPod and the death of good manners
Martin Vander Weyer
INTRODUCTIONS
WELCOME TO LOVE GENERATIONS Online dating for the over 50s An online dating site for single men and women in
GASCONY
GASCONY, SW France, near Condom-en-Armagnac 13th Century stone house, 21st Century luxury for 12 in 5 en-suites. 50 acres +
BOSC LEBAT, Tarn et Garonne.
BOSC LEBAT, SW France. Only 45 minutes from Toulouse Airport with daily flights from most provincial airports avoiding the horrors
Spectator Business | Apollo Magazine
Corporate | Advertising | Privacy | Terms
Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London, SW1H 9HP
All Articles and Content Copyright ©2010 by The Spectator | All Rights Reserved
Be the first to comment on this article!
Back to top