It is reported that the Russian pipe producing company United Metallurgical Company has announced that its subsidiary OMK Steel has signed a strategic partnership agreement for the years 2009 to 2010 with one of the largest oil and gas producing companies in Russia, namely, Gazprom Neft.

Within the framework of the agreement it is planned that OMK will increase its deliveries to Gazprom Neft by 30%.

Accordingly, the strategic partnership agreement between the companies is to contribute to the solution of Gazprom Neft efforts to modernize and develop its technological base in the sphere of output, transportation and processing of hydrocarbons.

Within the scope of the agreement, OMK and Gazprom Neft are also to conduct scientific, technical and marketing studies in order to create new types of pipes, to carry out tube production with the assigned technical parameters and to jointly monitor the technical state of Gazprom Neft pipelines.