A delegation of OAO Gazprom led by Chairman of the Management Committee Alexey Miller arrived on a business visit to the Republic of Slovenia today.

During the visit Alexey Miller had meetings with President of Slovenia Danilo Turk, Prime Minister Borut Pahor and Minister of Economy Matej Lahovnik.

The parties discussed an unprecedented situation evolved because of the obstacles imposed by Ukraine for transportation of the Russian gas to Europe.

Within the scope of negotiations it was noted that these actions of the transit state substantiated necessity to develop immediately the mechanisms for prevention of such crises in energy supplies. The Slovenian party confirmed its interest in the South Stream project. Its implementation would allow to avoid risks for the Russian gas transit, and would reinforce energy security of the European continent as a whole.

During the negotiations Alexey Miller stated that ”if the European partners come to us with a proposal to increase the South Stream capacity, we shall consider it”.

Background:

Deliveries of the Russian natural gas to Slovenia began in 1978. OAO Gazprom supplied 0.59 bcm of gas to the Republic in 2007.

With a view to diversify supply routes for the natural gas exported by OOO Gazprom Export, the South Stream project is being implemented, which involves construction of a gas pipeline through the Black Sea to the countries of the Southern and Central Europe.

At the pre-investment phase several options for the gas pipeline route are being examined, including overland sections of the gas mains at the Russian Federation territory (from Pochinki compressor station to the Black Sea shore) and at territories of some European states, along with submarine sections of the pipeline crossing the Black Sea and the Adriatic Sea (in case an option for the gas supply to the Southern Italy is selected).

To implement the overland sections of the project beyond Russia intergovernmental agreements were signed with Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary and Greece. A draft project of the respective agreement with Slovenia is being coordinated now. It is planned to sign an intergovernmental agreement with Austria.