Gazprom’s Headquarters has hosted today a working meeting of Alexey Miller, Chairman of Gazprom’s Management Committee, Marc Franco, Head of the European Commission’s Delegation to Russia and Martin Vukovich, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Austria to the Russian Federation.

The parties discussed the prospects for collaboration between Russia and the European Union in the energy sector, with the EU energy security becoming a particularly important issue for both parties given the Russia’s G8 Presidency in 2006. The parties expressed a common opinion that Gazprom’s expansion strategy was in line with the EU energy sector development strategy, in particular, with European aspirations to diversify gas transmission routes and provide more flexible gas deliveries to European consumers. The parties emphasized that Gazprom had always been and still was a reliable supplier of gas to Europe.

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At present Austria holds the Presidency of the European Union Council.

With natural gas imports averaging 80 per cent, Austria’s proved gas reserves account for some 26 bcm. Over 2004 Austria extracted 1.96 bcm of gas. Total natural gas consumption stands at 9.14 bcm.

Austria is a major country transiting Russian natural gas to Italy, France, Germany, Hungary, Slovenia and Croatia, annually piping a total of some 30 bcm. In addition to long-distance gas pipelines Austria has a 25,000-km-long manifold gas distribution network.

Austria’s largest oil and gas group OMV AG has been a major business partner of the Russian gas industry for so far 35 years. OMV was the first Western company to conclude in 1968 a long-term contract on natural gas acquisition from the USSR.

As of 1 January 2006 Austria had received a total of over 145 bcm of Russian natural gas, including 6.8 bcm in 2005.