Germany is the
largest buyer of Russian energy resources.
BERLIN, August 18.
/TASS/. Russia attaches great importance to the development of mutually
beneficial cooperation with Germany and energy is one its priorities, President
Vladimir Putin told reporters before the talks with German Chancellor Angela
Merkel.
"Russia attaches great importance to the development of mutually beneficial cooperation with Germany in the political, economic and other areas. One of the priority areas is energy," Putin said.
The President
recalled that "Germany is the largest buyer of Russian energy
resources."
"In 2017, we
delivered 53.8 bln cubic meters of gas, which covers more than 30% of the
German market, while the consumption of Russian gas is constantly growing and
this year it increased by 13%," he said.
Putin noted that
Germany is not only a market for the supply of hydrocarbons from Russia, but
also an important link in their transit to other European countries.
He recalled that this
June marked 50 years since the beginning of gas supplies from the Soviet Union
to Western Europe.
"Throughout this
period, our country reliably provided uninterrupted power supply, made and
still makes a significant contribution to the energy security of the entire
European continent," the Russian leader said.
Nord Stream-2 issue
Russia's Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline project will be among major energy issues up for discussion by the two leaders.
Merkel told reporters ahead of the meeting that Ukraine must maintain its role as a country of transit of Russian gas to Europe, despite the implementation of the Nord Stream-2.
"As for Ukraine,
we will also discuss the transit of gas. I believe that Ukraine should maintain
its role in the transit of gas to Europe also in the presence of the Nord
Stream 2," she said.
"I am very glad
that it became possible to start interim talks between Russia and Ukraine with
the participation of the EU," Merkel added.
Putin, in his turn,
replied that the Nord Stream-2 pipeline project would enable Europe to meet its
growing demand for energy resources and it does not close off the possibility
of gas transit through Ukraine.
"Together with
the German partners we are working on the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline project.
Its implementation will make it possible to improve the European gas
transportation system, diversify supply routes and minimize transit risks, and,
most importantly, to meet Europe's growing demand for energy," he said.
Putin stressed that
Nord Stream-2 is "an exclusively economic project, and it does not close
off the possibility of continuing transit supplies of Russian gas through the
territory of Ukraine."
"I know the
position of the Federal Chancellor on this issue, she raises this issue
constantly," Putin said adding that for Russia it is important to ensure
that the Ukrainian transit meets economic requirements and is "economic in
all senses of the word."
The Nord Stream 2
pipeline is expected to come into service at the end of 2019. The pipeline is
set to run from the Russian coast along the Baltic Sea bed to the German shore.
Each of the pipeline’s two stretches will have a capacity of 27.5 bln cubic meters.
The new pipeline will double the capacity of the first stretch and will
basically follow its route. The total cost of the pipeline is estimates at 9.5
bln euros.
Source: ITAR-TASS
19-08-2018
