"We are witnessing events that will go down in history not only of the domestic gas industry, but of the whole country," Mr Zubkov said. He said the welding of the first seam of the gas transportation system Bovanenkovo-Ukhta and the drilling of the first commercial gas well at the Bovanenkovo field heralded the start of the implementation of a mega-project to develop the huge hydrocarbon resources on the Yamal Peninsula. "It is the most ambitious energy project in Russia's recent history which is unprecedented in terms of complexity," Mr Zubkov stressed.

He also noted that the development of that oil and gas field was directly connected with the fulfilment of the rates and parameters of the increase of natural gas extraction under the Energy Strategy to the Year 2030. In addition, the Yamal mega-project will give a boost to the development of domestic science and modernisation of Russian industry, Mr Zubkov said.