Gazprom Expects Exports Rise Significantly

Gas producer Gazprom, expects its gas exports to rise to $25 billion in this year from $18.3 billion in 2004, Gazprom official said Monday, the Russian daily Vremya Novostei reported.

"We will not only set a new record in terms of export revenues, but we will strongly exceed last year's figure," Alexander Medvedev, head of Gazprom's export arm, said.

He said total 2005 export revenues -- including oil, gas condensate and petroleum products -- would exceed $26 billion.

Medvedev emphasized that Gazprom is negotiating with such companies as RWE, E.ON, BASF to swap assets and the negotiations could end by the end of the year.