Europe’s energy giants call for business as usual with Russia

Europe’s three largest gas companies called Wednesday for greater political support for increased business ties with the Russian energy giant Gazprom, saying growing tensions between Moscow and the European Union should not be allowed to jeopardize energy security.

As EU and Russian leaders continue to disagree, the bloc’s big energy companies are making their own deals with Gazprom. With Russia as Europe’s most important supplier of natural gas – demand for which is expected to rise sharply over the coming 10 years – officials at an energy conference in Berlin, sponsored by the Russian Gas Society said both sides had an interest in increasing energy security.

“It is about long term contracts, infrastructure joint ventures and asset swaps,” said Uwe Fip, senior vice president of E.ON Rurhgas.

Edouard Sauvage, vice president of the supply division of Gaz de France, said the strategy toward Russia was to have reliable and secure contracts for energy delivery.

International Herald Tribune