The chief executives of utility giant Electricite de France SA (EDF.FR) and Russia's OAO Gazprom (GAZP.RS) met here Friday to discuss the French company taking a minority stake in the planned South Stream natural gas pipeline, EDF said.
EDF Chief Executive Pierre Gadonneix and his Gazprom counterpart, Alexei Miller, discussed "the prospects for cooperation" between the two companies and "particularly the possible acquisition by EDF of a minority holding in the South Stream gas pipeline project...in partnership with the Italian energy company Eni SpA (E)," EDF said in a statement.
"Following a friendly and constructive meeting, the two CEOs confirmed their wish to continue discussions, which are expected to culminate in an agreement being signed in the near future," EDF said.