Russian gas supplies to France via the Ukraine are still halted, the chief executive of one of Europe's largest gas utilities said Friday.
Gerard Mestrallet, CEO of French utility giant GDF Suez (GSZ.FR) also said in a French radio interview that his company nonetheless has managed to completely offset the drop in Russian gas supplies by buying in gas from other countries, particularly Norway.
He didn't say when the supply would resume.
Despite the unreliability of Russian gas supply at the moment, Mestrallet said a close long-term business relationship with Russian gas distribution giant OAO Gazprom (GAZP.RS) is unavoidable. He said his company now needs to work together with Gazprom to make gas supplies more secure and to diversify gas transport infrastructure.
The official said he sees no problem in supplying France's gas needs despite the Russia-Ukraine gas dispute that has halted supplies via the Ukraine for three days, at a time when temperatures in Western Europe are the coldest in many years.
Mestrallet reiterated that gas consumption in France this week has been 40% higher than at this time a year ago.