Russia to diversify gas supplies to Asia

Russia plans to diversify its gas exports by redirecting some of it to the Asian-Pacific region following the imposition of the Third Energy Package in Europe, Deputy Energy Minister Anatoly Yanovsky said on Tuesday. Russia's proposal for the package to create exclusive or special rules for implementation of cross-border projects to supply Europe with gas and electricity from Russia had not been supported by the European Commission, Yanovsky said. "Of course, in such conditions we will review our general scheme for development of the gas industry. The aim will be diversification of gas supply routes, including the delivery to Asian-Pacific countries such as Korea, China," he said. The EU's Third Energy Package legislation obliges production, transportation and sales of energy to be separated and particularly affects Russian gas giant Gazprom, which produces and sells gas and owns transportation facilities. Yanovsky also said that the diversification would also mean more export of liquefied gas. "We think that some terms of the third package contradict international obligations between Russia and the European Commission and agreements on investment security, which were signed between Russia and many EU members," he said.