Russia Rejects Eni Call to Merge Europe Gas Pipelines
Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko has said that Russia is not considering merging its South Stream gas pipeline to Europe with the rival European Union-backed Nabucco link.
Paolo Scaroni, chief executive officer of Italy's Eni SpA, Gazprom's partner in South Stream, recently said combining the two pipeline projects would save time and money. But Shmatko said that South Stream is "more competitive" than Nabucco. He stressed: "We are not discussing these issues at all."
Shmatko added: "The need to diversify energy flows to Europe is understandable; we think that Nabucco and South Stream are far from being competitors. For the European consumer, the more gas the better, and more competition; but we are sure in terms of competition we are stronger."