23 Mar 2012 20:01

Natural gas demand in Europe, Asia to rise - Putin

KIRISHI, Leningrad Region. March 23 (Interfax) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said demand for natural gas in the world would rise.

"In building our strategy, we must work on the assumption that demand for natural gas will grow. This also concerns our domestic market, which is our unconditional priority, and the international markets both in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, he said at a conference on natural gas supply to consumers in the domestic and external markets.

Experts estimate that gas supply for domestic needs and export will exceed the pre-crisis level of 2007 as early as this year.