Norway, eyeing Arctic gas, signs Russia energy deal

Russia and Norway signed an energy partnership agreement and a trade deal on Monday, bringing the two energy-rich nations closer ahead of a decision on whether Norwegian firms can join a huge Russian gas project.

“We have good prospects in the field of oil and gas,” President Vladimir Putin told Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik at the Kremlin. “I just got the plans for your sea pipeline yesterday,” he added, without elaborating.