Gazprom intends to increase natural gas supplies to Europe to 160.8 billion cubic meters in 2010 from about 140 billion cu m last year as the global economy shows signs of recovery, the energy giant said on Tuesday.

Gazprom held a board meeting on Tuesday to discuss its strategy over the next three years.

"The plan of Gazprom gas supplies in 2010-2012 takes into account the consequences of the [global] financial and economic crisis and is based on the modestly optimistic scenario of the recovery of demand for natural gas in Europe," it was said during the board meeting.

In accordance with Gazprom's plans, natural gas supplies are expected to be increased further to 163.5 billion cu m in 2011 and 170.9 billion cu m in 2012.

Russian business daily Kommersant reported on Tuesday that Gazprom could lose the U.S. market as abundant shale gas has made the world's largest natural gas consumer sufficient in domestic gas supplies.

MOSCOW, January 26 (RIA Novosti)