BERLIN, May 26 (RIA Novosti) - Gazprom [RTS: GAZP] could make a decision on involving a third foreign partner in the construction of the North European Gas Pipeline in July or August, a deputy chairman of the Russian energy giant's said Friday.
German concerns BASF and E.ON are Gazprom's partners in the $10.5-billion NEGP project to supply Western Europe with gas via a pipeline leading from Russia to Germany across the floor of the Baltic Sea, but the involvement of another company has not been ruled out.
"This is not a soccer match but a serious commercial process and we not discussing preferences but a whole range of issues," Alexander Medvedev said.
He said negotiations with several potential partners were currently under way and expressed the hope that an agreement would be reached this summer.
President Vladimir Putin said Thursday he was not opposed to involving companies from other countries in the project.
"We are implementing this project with German partners but we are not against other countries joining it," Putin said.
Medvedev also said Gazprom expected to complete soon talks with E.ON on the South Russian gas deposit in Siberia, which will be the key NEG supplier. The deposits reserves are estimated at 1 trillion cu m.
In April 2005, Wintershall (a 100% BASF subsidiary) became Gazprom's partner in the development of the South Russian deposit with a 50% minus one share.
