On safari? Total and Gazprom
Total keen on Gazprom safari
French giant Total is ready to invite Russia's Gazprom to join its projects in Africa and elsewhere, the head of Total's Russia unit said, a day after the pair signed a major development deal in Russia.
"We are very open to discussing with a company like Gazprom to have developments abroad including, of course, in Africa," Pierre Nergararyan, general director of Total E&P Russie, told Reuters.
"I think it is very good for Russia if we think internationally. That is to say, the international companies will have partnerships in Russia, but the Russian companies have to also be thinking about their activity abroad. It is a win-win situation," he added.
His comments shed light on what could come next in the exchange of preferential deals and favours that has secured Total's position as Russia's favoured foreign energy partner.
In the past week, Total has struck a major deal to develop a large gas field in Russia with Novatek, and has sold a stake in a Dutch refinery to Russian oil producer Lukoil, trumping a bid from the largest US refiner, Valero.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin also welcomed Total's bid to take part in the future stages of the giant Shtokman development in Russia's far north after a meeting with Total boss Christophe de Margerie on Wednesday.