UK to buy Russian gas and power

Britain plans to start purchasing Russian gas, starting 2006, and power, starting 2007, British Energy Minister Brain Wilson told. Last December, Wilson held successful negotiations with Gazprom, the Russian gas giant, about possible gas supplies to Britain.
The Energy Ministry is currently awaiting Gazprom’s proposals, he said.

Britain is expected to suffer a gas deficit and to become a net-importer of gas in 2006, he noted. Britain may start purchasing power from Russia from 2007, when the European power market will be liberalized, he noted.