The Obkhod–Shakhunskaya Gas Pipeline is an inter-settlement gas pipeline 30.6 km long, commissioned on 18 September 2026. It runs from a gas distribution station near the village of Obkhod in Urensky Municipal District to the municipal district of the town of Shakhunskaya in the north of Nizhny Novgorod Region. The pipeline opens the way for gasification of six northern districts of the region, whose residents have been waiting for connection to mains gas for more than fifteen years.[1][2]

Commissioning

On 18 September 2026, the Governor of Nizhny Novgorod Region Gleb Nikitin reported to Russian President Vladimir Putin via video link on the completion of the pipeline's construction. The event was held as part of the launch of facilities built under the social gasification programme.[1] Participants included Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Alexander Novak, Chairman of the Management Board of PJSC Gazprom Alexey Miller, Director General of LLC Gazprom Mezhregiongaz Sergey Gustov, and Director General of JSC Gazprom Mezhregiongaz Nizhny Novgorod and LLC Gazprom Gazoraspredelenie Nizhny Novgorod Mikhail Morozov.[1]

Putin noted that as of 1 September 2026, a total of 1,620,000 households across the country had gained access to gas infrastructure under the social gasification programme, of which more than 1,200,000 had already been connected to mains gas.[1]

Significance for the Region

In the first phase, mains gas will reach approximately 1,400 households and six boiler houses in Shakhunskaya; the first boiler house is scheduled to be converted to gas before the end of 2026.[1][2] The pipeline was built under the gasification programme for Nizhny Novgorod Region. Over five years — from 2021 to 2025 — more than 2,100 km of gas pipelines were laid in the region, 177 localities were gasified, and design work was completed for 188 facilities intended to gasify a further 168 localities.[1]

The gasification program for Nizhny Novgorod Region for 2026–2030 provides for the construction of 2,212 km of gas pipelines, which will connect approximately 23,000 households to the gas supply system and convert 70 boiler houses to gas.[1][2] Over the entire course of the social gasification program's implementation in the region, 48,500 applications have been received from residents, 47,700 contracts have been signed, gas pipelines have been extended to the boundaries of 40,500 land plots, and 32,900 households have already been connected to gas.[1]

For eligible preferential categories of citizens in Nizhny Novgorod Region, a regional subsidy of up to 210,000 rubles is available for the gasification of a household — to cover the cost of installing the in-home gas pipeline and purchasing gas-powered equipment.[1][2]

Sources

  1. Vremya N — Gleb Nikitin reported to Vladimir Putin on the completion of the gas pipeline construction to Shakhunya
  2. Otkryty Nizhny — Gleb Nikitin reported to Vladimir Putin on the launch of the gas pipeline to Shakhunya — Politics (archive)