Delicious
Digg
Facebook
Twitter
Yahoo!
TechnoratiRussian PM Putin speaks out on Gazprom dispute
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has reacted to the European Union's anti-trust probe into Gazprom, a natural gas monopoly, after meeting with its CEO Alexi Miller on Monday on efforts to boost European exports.
Gazprom is Russia's richest and most strategic company.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin says that he'll be keeping an eye on the EU observers who have launched an investigation into Gazprom.
Putin's remarks were significant, as this is the first time he has spoken out on the natural gas dispute on alleged price collusion.
This issue could be an indication of the problems he will be dealing with when he returns to the Russian presidency in March.
Gazprom had documents siezed and the offices of its trading partners and its subsidiaries searched by an EU team, putting pressure on a company once seen as untouchable.
The Russian company has had to deal with fierce competition from North African suppliers, too.
To make matters worse for Gazprom, Turkey, its second-biggest client, refused to renew a contract it has held since 1986.
The EU probe was launched just weeks after Putin made public Russia's plans to expand its gas ties with Europe and thwart pipeline alternatives such as the Nabucco link being promoted by the United States.
Comments
React to this article