Russia wants closer cooperation with Germany on gas projects - report
Russia's energy minister Sergei Shmatko is calling for closer cooperation between Germany and Russia on building gas power plants, German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported Tuesday.
There is immense potential in a German-Russian partnership, Shmatko says in an interview, as Russia has the funds and gas, while Germany has the technology and a potentially large market.
Gas power plants could be built on former nuclear power sites to utilize the existing electricity infrastructure, Shmatko says, but first the German government must support the idea.
At present, renewable energy contracts have priority, while gas power plants are of secondary importance and don't receive long-term supply agreements, the Russian minister adds.
"We want clear rules in regard to the security of our investments," he says.
Shmatko also says a common electricity grid between Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Russia and Belarus could help create a secure supply for Germany.
Talks between German utility firm RWE and Russian natural gas monopoly Gazprom on a power production joint venture in western Europe were terminated last week.
Dow Jones Newswires
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