There are no delays or slowdowns in Eni SpA's accord with Gazprom and everything is proceeding as scheduled, Eni CEO Paolo Scaroni said.
"Everything agreed as regards the importation of gas was signed on Jan 31 and so we have nothing to add," he said.
Scaroni was answering a question regarding his absence, as well as that of Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller, at the Italy-Russia summit in Bari yesterday and whether this indicated possible delays in the strategic agreement between the two energy companies.
"We weren't there because there was nothing to sign. The agreement with Gazprom has been reached and is already operative," Scaroni said.
In Bari yesterday Italian prime minister Romano Prodi said the Eni-Gazprom agreement is proceeding smoothly even though there are some outstanding technical details to resolve.
Scaroni said that the question of his group's interest in Yukos assets was a separate issue.
"We will participate in the bid for Yukos assets on April 4 but this has nothing to do with Gazprom," Scaroni said.
A newspaper report today said that the bid by Eni and Enel SpA, along with Russia's ESN, for assets of bankrupt Russian oil producer Yukos are at risk due to the potential legal risks the operation would entail.
Scaroni said that if Eni won its bid for Yukos the gas extracted could be exported but then added that "the idea is to sell it there."
(AFX News, 15/03/2007)