Gazprom’s Headquarters has hosted a working meeting between the Gazprom Management Committee Chairman Alexey Miller and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Philippe of Belgium.

The parties deliberated on potential development of cooperation between Russia and Belgium in the oil & gas sector, placing an emphasis on issues surrounding Russian natural gas supply to Belgium and transit to third countries.

Special attention was paid to the construction of the North European Gas Pipeline intended to bolster diversification of Russian gas supply routes and expansion of gas transmission capacities in European countries including Belgium.

The parties also addressed the prospects for joint study of underground gas storage options in Poederlee (Belgium).

The parties unanimously agreed on the expediency of further developing the long-term partnership ties between Gazprom and Belgian companies as well as achieved an accord on concrete steps aimed at promoting the promising joint businesses.

Reference:

Belgium has no proven natural gas reserves and hence doesn’t produce natural gas.

All the natural gas consumed by Belgium (16.4 bcm) is imported from abroad.

In 2005 Gazprom provided Belgium with 280 MMcm of natural gas, 110 MMcm up on 2004.