10 July 2008

A new "gas cartel" in Europe?

Yeah... that'll make things so much better...
Gazprom, Russia’s state-­controlled gas company, said on Wednesday it was in talks to buy all of Libya’s oil and gas exports, in its latest effort to strengthen its influence over world energy markets.

Alexei Miller, Gazprom’s chief executive, made the offer in talks with Muammer Gaddafi, the Libyan leader, in Tripoli.

Mr Miller has been dismissive of the idea of a possible “gas Opec”, a cartel of gas producers that would co-operate to support prices.

But Gazprom’s interest in securing Libya’s future gas exports will fuel fears that it is attempting to create just such a cartel.
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