MOSCOW, May 12 (UPI) -- Natural gas deliveries to Russian and European consumers increased by 103 percent from their 2008 levels, Russian gas monopoly Gazprom announced.
Energy consumption, particularly natural gas, slumped in Europe as regional markets demand declined during the recession that gripped world economies in 2008 and 2009.
Alexei Miller, the chief executive at Russian gas giant Gazprom, said volumes of deliveries reached 103 percent of their 2008 pre-crisis levels, Russian state-run news agency RIA Novosti reports.
"It is completely clear now that Russia and Europe have significantly increased their gas demands," he said.
With construction of Gazprom's Nord Stream natural gas pipeline under way in the Baltic Sea, Miller said natural gas markets in Britain were a particular source for growth.
"This is a serious confirmation of our plans to exceed pre-crisis extraction volumes by 2013 and create new export corridors," he said.
Europe, for its part, is pushing for a series of gas transit routes from Central Asian and Middle Eastern suppliers in order to break the Russian grip on the regional energy sector.
