The European Union will keep talking with energy powerhouse Russia about gas supplies, but the bloc is also keen to look elsewhere to satisfy its energy needs, the EU's energy commissioner said yesterday.
Commissioner Andris Piebalgs added that any ruling on Russian gas monopoly Gazprom's acquisition attempts in Europe would be determined by normal competition rules.
He was speaking days after Gazprom, the world's biggest gas producer and supplier of a quarter of Europe's gas, threatened to export elsewhere if its European expansion was blocked.
Gazprom has already turned off the taps to Europe once this year in a pricing dispute with its neighbour Ukraine, transit route for 80 per cent of Gazprom's supplies to Europe.
"Clearly we need to continue our dialogue with Russia," Mr Piebalgs told reporters on the sidelines of talks in Doha, Qatar, between the world's energy consumers and producers.
Oil producers and consumers agreed the recent record price for crude was a danger to everyone, but appeared further apart than ever in their quest to bring prices down.
"The two are moving in parallel but there is no meeting point," said Opec president Ed Daukoru.
Consuming nations - from top energy user the United States to poor African nations - are afraid high energy costs will damage their economies. Commissioner Piebalgs said today's oil prices were destroying EU growth.
Producers fear a disastrous collapse in oil demand.
- (Reuters)
