OREANDA-NEWS. June 23, 2010. The Gazprom headquarters hosted today a working meeting between Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Company’s Management Committee and Bernhard Reutersberg, Chairman of the Executive Board of E.ON Ruhrgas AG.

The parties considered the current issues of the Russian-German cooperation in the gas industry. In particular, the agreements reached in connection with the entry of GDF SUEZ into Nord Stream AG as the fifth shareholder received a positive evaluation.

Based on the meeting results, Alexey Miller and Bernhard Reutersberg emphasized once again the importance and relevance of diversifying the routes of Russian gas exports to Europe.
Background

E.ON AG is Europe’s largest privately owned power and gas company. Having become part of E.ON AG in February 2003, E.ON Ruhrgas AG (Ruhrgas AG until July 1, 2004) is responsible for the group’s gas business in Europe, including natural gas production, marketing, transportation and storage.

On October 2, 2008 Gazprom and E.ON AG signed the Agreement on joint participation in the Yuzhno-Russkoye oil and gas field development project, in June 2009 – the Agreement on the asset swap in the natural gas production and trading sectors.

Pursuant to the Agreement, Gazprom received a 49 per cent stake in Gerosgaz holding 2.93 per cent of the Company’s shares. As a result of the deal the ownership right for this stake was completely transferred from E.ON Ruhrgas to Gazprom. In its turn, E.ON acquired a 25 per cent stake in the charter capital of Severneftegazprom (thus, the stake of E.ON AG amounted to 25 per cent minus three ordinary registered shares and three preferred non-voting shares).

E.ON AG also partners with Gazprom in the Nord Stream gas pipeline construction.