GDF Suez, which owns Europe's biggest gas network, will probably complete talks to join the Nord Stream pipeline by the end of the summer, Gazprom Deputy CEO Alexander Medvedev said on 28 July, according to reports in the Russian press.
The move to add to the project's investor base would involve reducing stakes held by German companies, Medvedev told reporters. Gazprom owns 51% of the link, Wintershall Holding and E.On Ruhrgas have 20% each and Nederlandse Gasunie has 9%.
The French daily Le Monde wrote that the rapprochement between GDF Suez and Gazprom carried particular significance after France had been ousted from the Nabucco gas pipeline project at the insistence of Turkey. Ankara's move came in retaliation to Paris's opposition to Turkey's EU accession, the French daily wrote.
Speaking to EurActiv, Sebastian Sass, head of South Stream's representation to the EU, confirmed that the company was in negotiations with EDF Suez.
The negotiations were conducted between the South Steam shareholder, and not directly with the gas pipeline company or management, he explained. "GDF has made an offer. GDF is interested in joining the Nord Stream company. I can confirm that the other shareholders are positive about this interest of GDF. But anything else is subject to negotiations," Sass said.
Asked about media reports that the January gas transit crisis between Russia and Ukraine (see EurActiv LinksDossier on 'Pipeline politics') had helped convince the French company of the need to build pipelines that bypass Ukraine, Sass insisted that the aim of the project was to bring additional gas to Europe, not to substitute existing routes.
"But of course the gas crisis has meant that there is now more attention on how to increase security of supply," he added.
Le Monde explained that Russia's tactic was to bring on board France to counterbalance critics of the pipeline within the EU, such as Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
Regarding France's interest, Le Monde writes that Suez probably has in mind future cooperation with the French group Total, which was invited in 2007 by Russia to help develop the Shtokman gas field in Siberia, the future supply source for Nord Stream.
There is a French will to develop energy partnerships with Moscow, a sector which German companies have occupied for a long time, the daily concludes.
