Interfax reported that French GDF Suez has begun detailed talks on joining Nord Stream, the project to build a gas pipeline from Russia to Germany across the Baltic Sea.

Mr Stanislav Tsygankov the head of foreign economic activity at Gazprom said "We have progressed now from the verbal interest stage to a more detailed agreement of these events with our partners, to the beginning of practical conceptualization."

Mr Tsygankov said the size of the stake GDF takes will depend on the existing foreign partners in the project.

(Sourced from Interfax)