UK Partner For Gazprom To Supply Gas

Russian national gas monopoly GAZPROM said it seeks a British partner for a $6 billion plan to supply Siberian gas to Western Europe via a pipeline across the Baltic Sea. Gazprom negotiated with such companies as oil majors Shell, BP and British gas company Centrica, with US investment bank Goldman Sachs said to be advising on the deal. The pipeline is expected to cost up to $6 billion and would involve the construction of a 1,875-mile link from northern Russia to Germany, with offshoots to the UK, Finland and Sweden. Shell spokesman said that as far as the pipeline construction will unlikely be completed before 2010, the pipeline is a "potentially favourable option" for expanding transportation capacity.