Gazprom has discussed its South Stream pipeline project with German utility RWE, sources said Monday, as Russia is stepping up efforts to undermine the rival Nabucco project.
RWE is one of the key participants of the EU-backed Nabucco, which is meant to help Europe cut reliance on Russian gas.
Sources at both Gazprom and RWE said South Stream, a pipeline that would deliver over a tenth of Europe's gas needs under the Black Sea to southern Europe, had been discussed by the two companies.
"It was just a preliminary discussion, nothing concrete. They are interested in entering the project," a Gazprom source said. An RWE source said the project had been discussed but declined further comment.
RWE refused to comment on the matter, saying it remained committed to Nabucco as "the best project for RWE at the moment."
German paper Handelsblatt reported, citing several unidentified people familiar with the talks, that Gazprom had approached RWE in order to win the company as a partner to the South Stream project.
RWE was still considering the offer, the paper said.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.