MOSCOW, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- It's obvious that Europe needs the Nord and South streams gas projects to address gaps in existing infrastructure, a Russian energy official said in Moscow.
Alexei Miller, the chief executive at Russian gas monopoly Gazprom, hosted delegates from French energy company GDF Suez at his Moscow headquarters.
Miller said that Europe didn't have the existing infrastructure capacity to meet long-term natural gas demands.
"Successful delivery of new infrastructure projects such as Nord Stream and South Stream reflects the mutual interests of Russia and the European Union in the energy sector," he said in a statement.
GDF Suez signed a memorandum of understanding with Gazprom in March for a 9 percent stake in the Nord Stream pipeline consortium.
"I am confident that our cooperation with French companies is a key factor in meeting Europe's growing need for natural gas," added Miller.
Gazprom aims to add diversity to its gas export options through the two pipelines. Several European leaders, however, are backing the rival Nabucco pipeline, which would move non-Russian gas to the eurozone.
