Russian natural gas monopoly Gazprom will send a team of experts to Romania to analyze the opportunity of a joint venture with local peer Romgaz, Gazprom’s president Alexei Miller (in picture) said Wednesday.  Miller met with Romanian officials in Bucharest to discuss the possibility of Romania joining the South Stream pipeline project.

The meeting agenda didn't include the joint venture project, but the parties agreed for Gazprom to send a delegation to Bucharest in the coming future, Miller said. Last year, Romgaz and Gazprom signed a memorandum to set up a joint venture that would target various projects in the natural gas and electricity sectors. Romgaz is Romania's largest natural gas producer and distributor. The company sold 35.7 million MWh of natural gas in the first half of 2010, up 19% on the year.

Romanian Economy Ministry owns a 85% stake in Romgaz and it plans to sell a 15% stake after the company is listed on the Bucharest bourse in 2011.

Mediafax