Putin Says Russia Wants to Play Key Role in Making Balkans an Energy Hub

(Bloomberg) -- Russia plans to increase its
influence in southeast Europe by buying state assets, supplying
fuel through new pipelines and linking power grids, President
Vladimir Putin said.

Companies like Russia's gas-export monopoly OAO Gazprom and
turbine-maker OAO Power Machines want to boost spending on the
region's energy infrastructure, Putin told leaders from the 10
Balkan states at an energy summit in Zagreb, Croatia today.


Read more at Bloomberg Energy News

Gazprom Chairman Calls BP Meeting in Kremlin to Discuss Kovykta Gas Field

(Bloomberg) -- OAO Gazprom Chairman Dmitry Medvedev
will hold a meeting in the Kremlin today with executives from BP
Plc, whose license to a Siberian field with more natural gas
than Canada is being threatened by the government.

Medvedev, who is also a first deputy prime minister, will
chair a meeting regarding BP, a Kremlin spokeswoman said by
phone, declining to elaborate.


Read more at Bloomberg Energy News