Russia's record as a stable energy supplier came under attack after it cut off natural-gas supplies to Ukraine in January. Although Europe-bound supplies of Russian natural gas were supposed to remain unaffected, energy giant Gazprom said Ukraine had tapped off some gas traveling through two pipelines on its territory and European consumers registered a shortfall that led to calls for diversification.
But echoing other Kremlin officials, Viktor Khristenko said, "We have experience of fulfilling commitments for 40 years and there have never been any failures."
Speaking to foreign journalists in Strelna near St. Petersburg, where a summit of the Group of Eight industrialized nations opened Saturday, Khristenko said Russian companies had contracts valid far beyond 2010.
"Russian companies' direct business partners can confirm that Russian supplies are reliable," he said.
The minister said the opportunities open to Russia's natural gas sector were down to the available potential, which he said accounted for "26% of the world's reserves."
Russia meets 25% of the European Union's natural gas needs and it also plans to export more oil and gas to Asia-Pacific markets.
Asked what should be done to raise energy efficiency, Khristenko said all participants of the "energy chain" should have partner-like relations and politicians should assist business in fixing long-term agreements.
The Russian minister also said Russia could ratify the Energy Charter when talks were completed on signing a protocol on energy resource transit.
"Russia has a clear position on the charter. We are ready to ratify it if transit talks are completed to the satisfaction of the sides," Khristenko said.
The Energy Charter Treaty, signed in The Hague in December 1991, spells out the terms of energy cooperation between eastern and western Europe. But Russia has refused to ratify it as Europe has demanded access for Central Asian states and other countries to Russian pipelines, which Moscow says will make their natural gas 50% cheaper than Russia's when it arrives in Europe.
