ROME (Dow Jones)--OAO Gazprom (GAZP.RS) wants to buy a "relevant" stake in Italy's Snam Rete Gas SpA (SRG.MI) as part of its accord with Eni SpA (E), daily Corriere della Sera reports Monday, without citing its source.
Eni, which owns more than 50% of Snam Rete Gas, denies it ever agreed to sell a stake in Italy's natural gas grid to Gazprom as part of a 2006 alliance deal. The issue is causing tensions between the two energy behemoths, writes the newspaper.
Gazprom, seeking direct access to end users in Italy's energy market, also wants a stake in Eni's electricity unit Enipower and gas storage unit Stogit. Eni is only willing to give Gazprom up to 3% of Enipower, and denied it was open to selling part of Stogit.