"This is obviously a success for us [Russia], as Germany in the European Union is one of our strategic partners," Igor Ivanov, the first deputy head of the Federation Council committee on economic policy, told RIA Novosti.
Schroeder was elected Thursday as chairman of the shareholders' committee for the North European Gas Pipeline, which will see Russian natural gas pumped to Germany across the floor of the Baltic Sea.
Mikhail Odintsov, the chairman of the upper house's commission on natural monopolies, said the appointment would strengthen Russia's position as a major player on world energy markets.
"Schroeder's appointment as head of this company will produce a high qualitative and quantitative effect of this Russian project to promote exports of its energy resources," he said.
The NEGP will run from the Baltic coast near Vyborg, on the Russian-Finnish border, to the Greifswald region in north Germany, and will comprise two parallel sections of 750 miles each, at a cost of 4.7 billion euros. Project manager Gazprom holds a 51% stake, with Germany's BASF and E.ON holding 24.5% each.
Earlier in the day, lower house deputies and some political analysts also welcomed Schroeder's election to the post.
