Russian gas giant Gazprom said on Tuesday it could prolong its contract with Slovenia from 2017 to 2035 and increase exports from 500 million to 1.7 billion cubic meters a year.
"As part of negotiations on the South Stream project, we are talking about extending the contracts until 2035 and raising exports to 1.7 billion cubic meters a year," Gazprom chief executive Alexei Miller said.
Gazprom is cooperating with Slovenia's government-run Geoplin Plinovodi on imports and the distribution of Russian natural gas in the country. Slovenia suggested that the current contracts be extended and the terms be revised in 2009.
Gazprom and Geoplin Plinovodi signed a contract to jointly build the Slovenian section of the South Stream pipeline project on Tuesday. The project is designed to diversify Russian gas export routes and involves Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, Greece, Slovenia, Croatia and Austria.
LJUBLJANA, March 22 (RIA Novosti)
