Total ready to cooperate with Gazprom in third countries, not just Russia - ambassador
MOSCOW. March 14 (Interfax) - The French government expects a decision on the investments of Total in the Shtokman project within a year and finds Total's membership in the Novatek Yamal-LNG project very promising.
I am very glad that Total signed an agreement with Novatek and that Total can take part in developing the field, French ambassador to Russia Jean de Gliniasty said in an interview with Interfax. Total got 15% of the shares and is now Russia's major partner in the gas and oil industry; this opens up great prospects, the diplomat said.
Total also intends to take part in Shtokman. The final decision on investments should be made very soon. Within a year at least, and we look forward to the decision with hope, de Gliniasty said.
Total is convinced that Shtokman is a very important, promising and very complex project, the ambassador said.
Much work is done in the framework of the project, technologies are transferred and there is a foundation for closer cooperation between Total and Gazprom , and we hope that this project will take place, he said.
The diplomat did not rule out the possibility of Total and Gazprom cooperating in third countries, primarily in Europe. EDF and GDF-Suez are cooperating with Gazprom. I know that they have contracts on gas sales and marketing, and the same is beginning with Total, he said. They have very close cooperation and the idea of working in third markets is a very good idea for everyone, he said.