MOSCOW, July 01. /ITAR-TASS/. Russian gas giant Gazprom boosted natural gas supplies to Europe by 2.8% in January-June 2014 from the same period of the previous year to 82.88 billion cubic meters, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said on Tuesday.

“Gas deliveries from Russia to Europe continue growing. In the first half of 2014, Gazprom delivered 82.88 billion cu m to far-abroad countries,” Miller said.

“Compared to the same period of the previous year, the deliveries grew by 2.8%, even though 2013 was a record year in the company’s history. This vividly demonstrates that foreign consumers continue to make their choice in favor of the Russian gas,” Miller said.

Russian natural gas deliveries to Western Europe grew by 20% in 2013, year on year, to 127.05 billion cubic meters while natural gas supplies to Eastern and Central Europe increased by 4.3% to 34.43 billion cubic meters. Russia’s total natural gas exports to Europe grew by 16.3% to 161.48 billion cubic meters.