Russian Foreign Ministry signs deal with Gazprom Neft

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Russian oil company Gazprom Neft signed a cooperation agreement on Tuesday.

Alexander Dyukov, head of Gazprom Neft, said that the cooperation agreement with the country’s Foreign Ministry was an important step towards the company’s goals to expand into the Middle East, Latin America, Central Asia and Europe.

“The Russian leadership pays special attention to the energy security of our country and Europe, and also to international energy security,” Sergey Lavrov, Russian minister of foreign affairs, said after the signing ceremony.

“I am confident that this partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will allow us to solve our strategic objectives and to expand our international presence and become a major player in the global energy markets,” Dyukov said.

Lavrov said despite the negative outlook in the global hydrocarbon markets, Gazpom Neft has maintained its role as a influential company in the global arena.

Gazprom Neft, the fourth largest oil producer in Russia, currently exports oil and oil products to 50 countries around the world.

By Emre Gurkan Abay in Moscow

Anadolu Agency

gurkan.abay@aa.com.tr