Gazprom considering Shtokman exports to Europe

COMPIEGNE, France (Reuters) – Russia assured France and Germany on Saturday it was a reliable energy supplier to European consumers and said Gazprom was considering exporting gas from its Shtokman field toward Europe.

Most of the gas the giant Russian monopoly wants to pump from the field, which lies under the Barents Sea 342 miles (550 km) from Russia and Norway, is destined for the United States.

But Russian President
Vladimir Putin said a large part of it could be exported to Europe as requested by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

“I can inform you that Gazprom is looking at that and the decision to do that could be taken in the near future,” Putin said at a joint news conference with Merkel and French
President Jacques Chirac.

Reuters