MOSCOW, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- The domestic market is the top priority for Russian gas monopoly Gazprom, though new transit corridors are important projects, a top executive said.
Most of the natural gas headed for Europe heads through Ukraine, though contractual disputes prompted the Russian gas monopoly to find new transit routes.
Alexei Miller, the chief executive at Gazprom, said that while the domestic gas market is a main focus, increasing the reliability of European transit networks remains at the top of the company's agenda.
"The Russian gas market is No. 1 priority for us," he said in a statement. "However, this does not mean we are disregarding the obligations to our European customers."
Gazprom is building the Nord Stream gas pipeline through the Baltic Sea. South Stream, the company's pipeline project for southern Europe, is in the feasibility stage.
In general, he predicted significant growth in the energy sector as world economies recover from the global recession.
"We are convinced that this trend will remain in the future," he said.
