OREANDA-NEWS. December 02, 2010.  The Gazprom headquarters hosted today a working meeting between Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Company's Management Committee and Jean de Gliniasty, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Russia.

The meeting addressed a wide spectrum of issues related to the interaction of French energy companies with Gazprom. The parties underscored that tight cooperation between Russia and France in the petroleum sector serves for strengthening the energy security in Europe.

Alexey Miller and Jean de Gliniasty emphasized the importance of such meetings for deepening traditional partnership relations binding business communities of the two countries.
Background

France is the third largest market for Gazprom in Europe behind Germany and Italy. In 2009 Gazprom sold 10 billion cubic meters of gas in France. Russia has been supplying gas to France since 1975.

At present, three large French companies closely cooperate with Gazprom – GDF SUEZ, Total and EDF.

In December 2006 Gazprom and Gaz de France signed the Agreement to extend the existing contracts for Russian gas supply to France up to 2030. In addition, an accord was reached to launch extra gas supplies to Gaz de France via the Nord Stream gas pipeline. The annual gas supply volume will be 2.5 billion cubic meters.

Gazprom also received an opportunity to directly deliver gas to ultimate consumers in France in the amount of up to 1.5 billion cubic meters, starting from October 2007.

In July 2007 Gazprom and Total signed the Framework Agreement on the basic terms and conditions for cooperation at Phase 1 of the Shtokman gas and condensate field development. In February 2008 Gazprom, Total and StatoilHydro (present Statoil) signed the Shareholder Agreement on establishing Shtokman Development AG, a special-purpose company to design, develop, construct, finance and operate Phase 1 facilities intended for the Shtokman field development. Gazprom holds 51 per cent in the company's equity capital, Total and Statoil – 25 and 24 per cent respectively.

On June 19, 2010 Gazprom, Eni and EDF signed a trilateral Memorandum providing for specific steps towards the French company's entry in the shareholding structure of South Stream AG. The entry is scheduled before the end of 2010 through a reduction of Eni's stake in the joint venture.