Russia has handed the European Commission a proposal to provide
exemptions for Russian pipelines that enter the European Union from
regulations restricting their use by Russian export monopoly OAO
Gazprom, Interfax news agency cited Gazprom Chief Executive Alexei
Miller as saying in Brussels Friday.
Mr. Miller said the document proposed that projects of "mutual
interest" be exempt from EU rules--which restrict the amount of gas
transited by pipelines' owners--until investors see a return on their
investment. Gazprom and its partners began construction of the South
Stream pipeline this month, which will transit gas to Southern Europe
via the Black Sea from 2015.
Russia accounts for around one-quarter of the gas needs of the EU, its most lucrative market.
Mr. Miller also said Gazprom is seeking to gain full use of
the OPAL pipeline, which connects Nord Stream to the main German gas
grid, for the next six months, Interfax reported. Gazprom can currently
only use 50% of its capacity.