"At this meeting, the sides discussed the strategic positions of the ENO -Ruhrgas group on the European markets and also cooperation opportunities in the sphere of energy and gas," the department spokesman said.
The sides also discussed cooperation in gas purchases and transit and in the development of infrastructure, including the projects of a gas transportation consortium in the Ukraine and of a North European gas pipeline.
The EON is one of the leading energy companies in Europe. It was founded in 2000 with its headquarters in Munich. The company's market capitalisation amounts to 37 billion euros; the sales in the first nine months of 2003 exceeds 33 billion euros.
The company supplies electric energy all over Europe, to 41 million consumers. Since the beginning of 2003, the EON is a sole owner of the Ruhrgas company.
The Ruhrgas purchases Russian gas, being a traditional partner of the Gazprom public company. Its maximum annual commitments for purchasing Russian gas amount to 22 billion cubic metres. The company controls 6.7 percent of the Gazprom shares.
