New dates will be announced later.

Rescheduling of the 10^th Anniversary St. Petersburg International Gas Forum is a reasonable decision, conditioned by the world’s step-by-step recovery from the pandemics and conscious regard to global safety standards.

Rescheduling of Russia’s most significant industrial event – St. Petersburg International Gas Forum – seems quite logical and reasonable. Traditionally, it is participated by major international gas corporations and their officials, including Gazprom, Wintershall Dea GmbH, Royal Dutch Shell PLC, VNG AG, Uniper SE, OMV AG, and PetroChina Company Limited. Their ability to attend the event obviously depends on step-by-step easing of the pandemic restrictions in different countries, and for the Forum, usually visited by many participants from abroad, it is the overall synchronization of dates that matters.

The webinar took place under NNF.Digital.

The experts of the industrial community discussed prospects of speeding-up development and existing terms of additive tech adoption both in Russia and across the globe.

At first, key issues on the agenda were announced, including practical experience of additive tech application in the fuel and energy industry and related fields; economic and technological aspects; technical regulations and standardization; development drivers; and administrative barriers.

The webinar was moderated by Sergey Yatsenya, CEO, National Oil and Gas Forum LLC.

The event was opened by Mikhail Turundayev, CEO, RusAT. In his opening speech, he mentioned that today’s Russian additive tech segment lacks its own insights, and yet he expected the situation with Russian equipment development to change drastically in the nearest future. Dynamic evolution of Russian projects was, in particular, a result of long-term international isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemics, he added. According to Mikhail, an important milestone on the way to promotion of new technology development was implementation of the additive tech development roadmap in Russia by RusAT.

Oleg Zhdaneev, Head of the Technological Development Competence Center for the Fuel and Energy Industry, Russia’s Ministry of Energy, made a speech at the session Additive tech development prospects in Russia and in the world: major trends and new growth areas. “Key factors that determine the industry advancement dynamics are technological innovations, investment performance, and focuses. Thus, in June the Russian Government has passed the Energy Strategy of the Russian Federation by the year of 2035, the annex to which provides top-priority guidelines for process and technology development in the fuel and energy sector. Today, in collaboration with Russia’s Ministry of Industry and Trade, the industrial community and development institutions, they’re working on the industry’s technical policy,” the expert explained. This point was elaborated by Igor Ermolin, Deputy Sales Director, FITNIK Ltd., “For proper and economically efficient additive production introduction at Russian sites, we should do first things first, and start with the product design. Only pieces properly designed with means of technological enhancement tools for additive production can ensure the best economical value,” the speaker resumed.

Anton Ablaev, Director for Acceleration in the Oil and Gas Sector, Skolkovo Foundation, highlighted importance of the additive tech trend both for the oil and gas industry and the Russian industry in general. The session was closed by Vladimir Marshov, Technical Director, Additive Tech Centre JSC, Rostec State Corp., “Responsible industrial sectors pay much attention to certification and quality assurance, and the Additive Tech Centre has done much progress there already. However, additive tech can’t be introduced on a vast scale unless the approach to new products design changes. Our training program is to answer to this challenge.” Summarizing the session results, Mikhail Turundaev told about an industrial association being established for regular communication within the expert community, and invited every concerned company to join.

The second session Practical application of additive tech in the fuel and energy industry and related sectors: economical and technological aspects featured Sunny Wong, Director, Process Development Department, Shining3D. The expert shared her opinion on global prospects of additive tech, focusing on the fact that for now additive production can’t replace traditional processes in the energy industry, but can complement it, enhancing design procedures, creating sophisticated geometric shapes, and producing spare parts.

The discussion was undertaken by Evgeny Grigoriev, Business and Strategy Development Director, RusAT LLC. The speaker explained how Rosatom updated additive tech development in the nuclear industry. According to him, 3D printing can become an efficient tool for solving minute and labor-intensive tasks, ensuring single-piece production with unique complement. He shared his thought that nuclear safety required a domestic full-range additive tech manufacturing, which could precede additive tech introduction in related sectors.

Ekaterina Cheban, Head of Innovation Development Programs, Logistics Support, Gazprom neft, PJSC, gave a report on the need for further additive tech adoption in the Russian oil and gas industry, and presented several relevant projects completed by Gazprom Neft PJSC. This session was also participated by Sergey Kosulin, Deputy Managing Production Director, Additive Tech Centre JSC, and Maxim Nekhoroshev, CAD and Additive Production Advisor, Connective PLM.

The final session Technical regulations and standardization: development drivers and administrative barriers was opened by Mikhail Kuznetsov, Head of Technological Partnerships and Import Substitution of Equipment and Technologies, Gazprom Neft PJSC. Mikhail told about the Independent Non-profit Institution for Oil and Gas Initiatives, which is actively engaging Russian and foreign oil and gas companies, design entities, and equipment manufacturers. “This platform is unique, as they offer a chance of establishing united industrial standards and discovering local products’ export potential through presenting them to international players. There is no doubt that the Institution for Oil and Gas Initiatives is a perfect venue to maintain requirements for goods made with additive tech, as well,” the speaker summarized.

The closing report was delivered by Alexander Kryukov, Head of the Quality Assurance and Standardization, RusAT LLC. The expert pointed out that standardization in the additive tech field was definitely a driver for additive tech development in Russia, as it would bring in the best practice.

The event was participated by members of the expert community, officials of the top industrial companies, and the mass media representatives.

The webinar was organised by National Oil and Gas Forum, NEFTEGAZ (Oil and Gas) Exhibition, and ExpoCentre JSC

with support of the St. Petersburg International Gas Forum

General Partner: Rusatom – Additive Technologies LLC

Partner: Gazprombank Joint Stock Company