Eni SpA (E), Italy's biggest energy company by market capitalization, said Friday it signed a new understanding agreement with OAO Gazprom (GAZP.RS) that will boost the project's annual natural gas capacity to 47 billion cubic meters from the original 31 billion.
"Eni and Gazprom confirmed their full commitment to develop the project, given its strategic relevance to provide, through a new route, significant contribution to secure direct gas supplies to Europe," said the Rome-based company in a statement.
Eni CEO Paolo Scaroni signed the deal in the presence of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and his Italian counterpart Silvio Berlusconi in Russia Friday.