BERLIN, May 26 (RIA Novosti) - Gazprom (RTS: GAZP) is considering building a second branch of its Blue Stream natural gas pipeline, a deputy chairman said Friday.
"We intend to expand natural gas deliveries to southern Europe," Alexander Medvedev said.
The Blue Stream pipeline is the largest Russian-Turkish joint energy project to date, which carries Russian natural gas to Turkey. The $3.2 bln pipeline transported 5 bln cubic meters of natural gas in 2005, and is expected to carry 16 bln cu m annually by 2010.
Medvedev reiterated Gazprom's intention to enter end-consumer markets in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.
"We are not hiding our intention to enter end-consumer markets for European imports of Russian natural gas, including possible acquisitions of assets that are put up for sale," Medvedev said.
