ALGIERS, March 10 (RIA Novosti) - The head of Russian energy giant Gazprom said Friday that Algeria might take part in building liquefied natural gas plants in Russia.
Alexei Miller, who is a member of the Russian delegation accompanying President Vladimir Putin on his first visit to Algeria, said: "Cooperation with Algeria in this sphere interests us, given the country's experience, which goes back decades, and we do not rule out its participation in building facilities to liquefy natural gas on Russian soil."
Miller said projects in this area were important to Gazprom, which is seeking to diversify its final products.
"We are moving toward producing liquefied natural gas along with pipeline gas," Miller said, adding that in the 1960s, Algeria was a pioneer in this sphere.
Miller said a memorandum on cooperation with Algerian state-owned energy company Sonatrak could be signed in April.
Russia and Algeria, a major oil and gas producer and a long-standing supplier of natural gas to Europe, may also join efforts in prospecting, developing oil and gas deposits, and in repairing and modernizing pipelines and wells in Algeria.
Miller also said that Gazprom might open an office in Algeria.
"We will consider opening a Gazprom representative office in Algeria if a memorandum is implemented successfully," he said.
