Germany's E.ON AG may join the South Stream
pipeline project, which is expected to carry Russian gas to the European Union
as early as 2015, Russia's
Interfax news agency reported late Wednesday, quoting OAO Gazprom's
Chief Executive Alexei Miller.
Miller was quoted as saying "The fact that E.ON is present at the
South Stream presentation is a sign of something; such a large project can't be
out of radar of such a large partner." Miller was speaking in Brussels at
South Stream's presentation.
Neither E.ON nor Gazprom were
available for immediate comments.
South Stream is owned 50:50 by Italy's
ENI SpA and Gazprom. Electricite de France SA is to take a 10% stake later this year, and
Wintershall AG--a unit of German chemicals giant BASF SE --said March 21 it
will take a 15% stake in the project.