Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi Thursday met with OAO Gazprom (GAZP.RS) Chief Exectuive Alexey Miller to discuss boosting relationships with Italian energy companies.
The Italian government said in a statement the two met at the premier's office in Rome also to discuss the "prospects of the sector in light of the financial crisis that has hit global markets," without providing details.
Italy's state-controlled oil and gas company Eni SpA (E) and utility Enel SpA (ENEL.MI) said Thursday they signed an agreement with Gazprom to develop the Russian Arctic Gas and Urengoil assets, as Italy's two biggest energy companies seek to tap into Russia's vast hydrocarbon fields.