Croatian Economy Minister Ivan Vrdoljak said on Wednesday the country's government had held talks with visiting senior Gazprom executives on energy issues but made no major conclusions.

Vrdoljak said that Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic talked with Alexey Miller, Russian natural gas producer Gazprom's deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors, about Croatia's plans for exploration and production of oil and gas and the relevant tenders, Croatian News Agency Hina reported.

Gazprom showed interest in participating in the tenders, more interested in exploration in inland Croatia, the minister said.

Croatia would publish the tenders for exploration in the mainland in mid-July this year, according toVrdoljak.

Miller did not make comment after the talks, while a press release issued by Gazprom said the talks involved the possibility of cooperation in the oil and gas sector, including the South Stream gas pipeline and plans to build a branch passing through Croatia.

It said that 340 million cubic metres of gas were delivered to Croatia in the first half of 2014, a 45 percent increase than all year of last year.

http://www.neurope.eu/article/croatia-holds-talks-russias-gazprom-energy-issues