Russian gas giant Gazprom has reiterated its interest in a pipeline that would run across Slovenia to Italy in a meeting between its president Alexei Miller and Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa on Saturday in Strunjan.
"Gazprom is interested in seeing the new pipeline between Russia and Italy run across Slovenian territory, while the energy giant has also expressed interest in investing in (refinery) Nafta Lendava," Economics Minister Andrej Vizjak told the press after the Jansa-Miller meeting.
Vizjak explained that the course of the pipeline in question had been set in 1997 but that the project was dropped at the time. However, the project is alive again, with Gazprom looking to connect Russia and Italy with a pipeline running through Hungary and Slovenia.
The decision on the feasibility of the project now rests on Italy, the end user of the gas that would be transported through the pipeline, Vizjak added.
He explained that the pipeline would be a good alternative for the unpopular gas terminals in the Gulf of Trieste, which is why Slovenia supports the idea.
Vizjak is convinced that the pipeline in question would also represent a long-term answer to the gas needs of Italy, Hungary and Slovenia.
Among other things, it would allow Slovenia to launch a number of other projects, including gas-powered electricity production.
Moreover, Vizjak announced that Gazprom and Slovenia have set up an expert team that would deal with the future of Nafta Lendava, the state-owned refinery that has been laying idle for years.
According to him, Gazprom wishes to turn the Lendava-based company into a leading crude oil company in Central Europe.
Gazprom also has its eye on the retail market in Slovenia, Vizjak said, adding that this represents an opportunity for fuel trader Petrol to be brought in as a possible partner.
Jansa and Miller did not speak to the press following what was their first meeting, which comes amidst a high in contacts between the two countries.
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