Gazprom discusses Nord Stream 2, TurkStream with French cos
MOSCOW. Sept 15 (Interfax) - Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller held talks with EDF chief executive Jean-Bernard Levy in Paris at which they discussed the "issues of creating new routes for exports of Russian gas to Europe taking into account the resumption of the TurkStream project," the Russian gas giant said.
EDF participated in the South Stream pipeline project, which was cancelled and supplanted by TurkStream.
Gazprom, EDF division Edison SpA and DEPA SA signed a memorandum of understanding in February in regard to supplies of natural gas from Russia across the Black Sea through a third country to Greece and from Greece to Italy. The companies plan to use the work done by Edison and DEPA on the ITGI Poseidon project as much as possible.
Gazprom said there was also a meeting with Engie chairman Gerard Mestrallet at which the partners discussed the current state of cooperation and prospects for its development, including on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project.
Polish regulators have blocked the formation of a joint venture for Nord Stream 2, so Gazprom and its European partners are now looking for a new way to carry out the project together. The information Gazprom provided about Nord Stream 2 in its press release did not mention the members of the consortium.
Gazprom supplied 8 billion cubic meters of Russian gas to France in the period from January 1 to September 13, 2016, 27.3% more than in the same period last year, the company said. Russian gas exports to France jumped 36.8% to 9.7 bcm in 2015.