MOSCOW, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Moscow sees Belgium as a potential transit country for natural gas deliveries to third countries, Russian energy giant Gazprom said during bilateral talks.
Gazprom Chief Executive Alexei Miller welcomed Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme to Moscow to discuss bilateral cooperation in the energy sector.
"The parties addressed the promising areas of Russian-Belgian cooperation in the energy sector placing an emphasis on Russian natural gas supplies to Belgium and its transit to third countries," Gazprom said in a statement.
Both sides also reviewed interaction between Gazprom and Belgian natural gas company Fluxys, including the potential use of Belgium's underground gas storage capacity.
"Based on the meeting results, the parties highlighted that long-standing cooperation of Gazprom and Belgian energy companies had a great potential for meeting the growing gas demand on the European continent," said Gazprom.
Belgium doesn't have any natural gas reserves of its own and relies on imports to meet energy demands. Gazprom covers about 20 percent of the country's natural gas needs.
