OREANDA-NEWS. May 25, 2012. Vladimir Putin and Helge Lund discussed opportunities for cooperation between Gazprom and Statoil ASA on the Shtokman gas field development project.

Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller also took part in the meeting. 

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PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA VLADIMIR PUTIN: Good afternoon, Mr Lund.

We met not so long ago to talk about expanding our cooperation in developing offshore oil production. We also agreed on that occasion to continue our contacts and continue working together on gas production, too.

You have a big and very good project with Gazprom. Gazprom is pursuing work and research and technology cooperation in several different areas. The Shtokman project mining asset has global significance and we have not made a final decision on it yet, but we need to make active progress. I think that we have every chance of moving forward. Indeed, we could take steps in this direction very soon, at the St Petersburg Economic Forum. I propose that we discuss these various matters today.