MOSCOW, April 24 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's energy and industry minister said Monday that energy suppliers, consumers, and transit countries should jointly shoulder responsibility for ensuring security in the sector.
Viktor Khristenko said at a meeting with British Energy Secretary Malcolm Wicks that "the era of cheap energy" had passed and that risks had grown. He said international debate had tended to focus more on consumer interests, and also called for discussions of "demand security."
European countries, concerned about growing dependence on energy supplies from Russia, have questioned Russia's ability to ensure uninterrupted supplies following its gas price dispute with Ukraine in January of this year that led to cuts in supplies to some European consumers.
Russia has declared energy a key issue on the agenda of its first chairmanship of the Group of Eight developed nations this year.
