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Gazprom enters British gas distribution market
AFP
MOSCOW
Petroleumworld.com 06 23 06
Russian gas giant Gazprom said Thursday it had entered the British gas distribution market through its acquisition of assets in the British group Pennine Natural Gas Limited (PNG).
The deal, for which a financial figure was not disclosed, should mean the addition of 600 clients for Gazprom subsidiary Gazprom Marketing and Trading.
While PNG is not considered a leader in the gas distribution sector, it nonetheless offers Gazprom a chance to get a foothold in the British market.
Gazprom's plans to expand its distribution operations in Europe have provoked concern, notably in Britain where there is uneasiness at the possibility that the Russian state monoply might acquire Centrica, Britain's leading gas supplier.
Gazprom in late April warned the European Union not to politicize gas supply issues, threatening to sell fuel elsewhere if its commercial ambitions in the European market were unfairly restricted.
Russia is the world's second-biggest oil exporter and largest natural gas producer.
Gazprom on Thursday announced a second agreement, an accord with National Gas Shipping Services Limited covering the delivery of gas direclty to consumers.
AFP 22 1509 GMT 06 06
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