BERLIN, November 14 (Itar-Tass) —— Russia plans to develop closer interaction with Germany in the gas field and offers that country to set up “a comprehensive energy alliance,” Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko said in an interview with the Suddeutsche Zeitung.
In his words, Russia jointly with its German partners is ready to perform construction, funding and use of power plants. The key goal is “development of deeper energy partnership in the form of a bilateral agreement with Berlin,” the newspaper quoted Shmatko as saying.
“It is necessary to do our best to become closer, which meets the interests of the two sides,” the Russian minister said. In his opinion, the renunciation of the nuclear energy development will enforce Germany to build new power plants with total capacity of 10-12 Gigawatts, which approximately corresponds to the generation of electricity by ten to fifteen big power plants.
“We are ready to invest projects of the kind,” Shmatko said.
In the words of the minister, Russia is ready to grant investments in the project within a short period of time.
Shmatko is confident that the Russian government jointly with the Russian energy industry and German technological companies, including Siemens, could work out a related action plan within six months.
Preliminary talks with German politicians have already been held, the Suddeutsche Zeitung wrote.
The Russian energy minister believes that the two sides could construct the first power plants within four years, while the entire set of projects might be over within a decade.
While quoting experts, the Suddeutsche Zeitung wrote that the cost of the projects is giant – about 10-15 billion euros.
Shmatko dispersed fears about West Europe’s growing energy dependence on Russia. In his words, “the dependence of the kind has two faces.” In addition, West European concerns have already received the possibility to carry out intensive activity in Russia. “We are only interested in equal chances,” Shmatko said.