A Gazprom delegation headed by Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Company's Management Committee, paid a visit to France today.

In the course of the visit, a working meeting between Alexey Miller and Jean-Bernard Levy, Chairman and CEO of EDF, took place in Paris.

The parties paid particular attention to creating new routes for Russian gas exports to Europe in the light of the resumed TurkStream project.

Another working meeting took place between Alexey Miller and Gerard Mestrallet, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ENGIE.

The meeting participants discussed ongoing and future cooperation, including joint efforts within the Nord Stream 2 project.

From January 1 to September 13, 2016, Gazprom supplied 8 billion cubic meters of gas to France, which was 27.3 per cent higher than in the same period of 2015.
Background

In 2015, Russian gas exports to France totaled 9.7 billion cubic meters, rising 36.8 per cent versus 2014.

EDF is a leader in the European energy market. The company deals with electric power generation, transmission and distribution, as well as operates in the gas sector.

On February 24, 2016, Gazprom, Edison SpA (part of EDF), and DEPA SA signed the Memorandum of Understanding on natural gas deliveries from Russia across the Black Sea and third countries to Greece and from Greece to Italy. While implementing the project, the parties are committed to take advantage of the work done by Edison and DEPA within the ITGI Poseidon project.

France's ENGIE (GDF SUEZ before 2015) implements projects in the field of natural gas exploration, production, processing and marketing, as well as power generation.

Gazprom and ENGIE cooperate on gas supply and transmission projects (Nord Stream). The companies also interact in sci-tech development and personnel training, as well as pursue joint cultural projects.

Nord Stream 2 is the construction project for a gas pipeline with the annual capacity of 55 billion cubic meters, running from Russia to Germany across the Baltic Sea.