GAZ DE FRANCE
Russia is the largest supplier of natural gas providing about a quarter of Europe’s gas demand.
90 % of gas consumed in France is imported under long-term contracts and produced domestically. The share of Russian natural gas amounts to about 25% of gas consumption. Thus, Russia is one of the leading suppliers of "blue fuel” to France. Natural gas plays an important role in economic relations between Russia and France. Gas supplies comprise from 20 to 30% of the foreign trade turnover between the two countries.
Cooperation between Gazprom and the Gaz de France company in gas supply started in 1976. Over the time, Gazprom and its Gazexport subsidiary have provided Gaz de France with more than 225 bcm of natural gas under long-term contracts.
At present, Gaz de France buys from Gazexport 12 bcm of gas annually.
4 bcm of natural gas are transported to the site of delivery in Baumgarten on the border between Austria and Slovakia. These supplies are carried out within the framework of two contracts, signed in 1975. Their term expires in 2012.
8 bcm of gas are supplied to Widehouse on the border between Germany and Czech Republic under the contract concluded in 1983 valid till 2008.
In April 2003, Gazprom and Gaz de France signed new agreement on gas supplies. According to this document, major export contract, providing for Gaz de France with annual 8 bcm of Russian gas, is prolonged by 7 years valid till 2015 inclusive. Total volume of Russian gas export to France is 12 bcm per year due to the contract prolonged.
Since natural gas consumption in Europe and, particularly, in France is expanding, Russia with huge gas reserves give rise for cooperation between Gazprom and Gaz de France development year-by-year. So, the companies have signed a series of documents related to cooperation in the science, technology, finance, economics and professional training. Joint projects have been realized lately in the energy saving, operation and reconstruction of gas transmission networks as well as in gas underground storage development research.
Gazprom and Gaz de France are co-founders of the FRAGAS Trading House engaged in natural gas sale and equipment procurement. In 2002, the consortium composed of Gazprom, Gaz de France and German Ruhrgas has won the tender to purchase shares (49 %) in the Slovak gas company SPP.
Gazprom and Gaz de France have contributed significantly to the cultural relations between Russia and France development. As a part of celebrations, devoted to the 25th anniversary of the Russian gas supplies to France initiation, Great Emperors of Europe: Napoleon I and Alexander I was a unique art and history exhibition organized with assistance of the two companies in 2000.
Celebrating the 300th anniversary of Saint Petersburg, Gazprom and Gaz de France, together with the city administration of Paris and the French Association of Artistic Action, organized a retrospective exhibition of one of the greatest French artists of the XX century Nikolya de Stal. The exhibition was held at the State Hermitage from 12 May to 17 August 2003.