Russ Oil-Gas

31.05.2006 11:49 [Neftegaz.ru] – Russian gas monopoly Gazprom has rejected European Union's claim to open its pipeline network to independent producers and other countries. Gazprom's deputy CEO Alexander Medvedev called plans to bypass Russia with a gas pipeline from Kazakhstan to Europe "unrealistic". The planned trans-Caspian pipeline has strong backing from the EU, which is seeking ways to loosen Russia's stranglehold on gas supplies from Central Asia. However, Medvedev said Kazakhstan did not have enough gas to justify the planned pipeline, nor Europe enough demand.