OREANDA-NEWS. July 08, 2011. Paris hosted today a working meeting between Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee and Gerard Mestrallet, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GDF SUEZ.

During this meeting, the parties discussed the recent development of the gas markets and the current issues on developing cooperation between the companies in the energy sector, including the interaction of Gazprom and GDF SUEZ in the construction of the Nord Stream gas pipeline.

Parties discussed the additional gas volumes that Europe may need in the future, following the decisions made post-Fukushima events. According to them, launching of the Nord Stream will contribute to Europe's security of supply and will be a guarantee of meeting the growing energy demand of the French and European consumers in the long term. They underlined the great work already done for Nord Stream project.

The meeting participants also noted the successful partnership of Gazprom and GDF SUEZ in such areas as exchange of experience and training of staff, scientific and technical cooperation, environmental protection, and introduction of energy efficient technologies.

 Gazprom and GDF SUEZ also talked about possibilities of developing their cooperation in power industry.

 At the end of the meeting Alexey Miller said: “We highly and positively appreciate the results of collaboration with GDF SUEZ”.
Background

 The cooperation between Gazprom and GDF SUEZ in the gas supply area started in September 1975.

 In December 2006 the companies signed the Agreement to extend the existing contracts for Russian gas supply to France until 2030. In addition, the parties agreed to deliver additional gas volumes to GDF SUEZ via the Nord Stream gas pipeline. The annual gas supply volume will be 2.5 billion cubic meters.

 In October 2007 Gazprom was provided with an opportunity to deliver up to 1.5 billion cubic meters of Russian gas per year directly to end consumers in France.

 In 2010 Gazprom supplied 9,8 billion cubic meters of gas to France.

 The companies have established long-term partnership relations in several areas. Thus, on September 29, 2006 Gazprom and GDF SUEZ signed their first Agreement of Cooperation in staff training and development.

 GDF SUEZ operates worldwide in the field of power generation, oil and gas projects, as well as in the field of environmental services such as water and waste management.