April 6, 2002	Saturday	Muharram 22, 1423

MOSCOW, April 5: Russian gas giant Gazprom said on Friday it might change its export strategy and start shipping gas directly to European countries instead of through trading houses.

The company said in a statement it would set up a joint venture with Romania to study the possibility of direct gas supplies to the country.

Gazprom’s export policy came under fire last year when Russian President Vladimir Putin complained about the huge difference between Gazprom’s export prices at the Russian border and the prices of gas in Europe.

Gazprom’s new management has promised revamp the system.

“The intensification of the dialogue between Russia and Romania corresponds to Gazprom’s new export strategy, mentioned by President Putin last November,” Gazprom said in a statement.—Reuters