Essent visits president Putin

Accompanied by Prime Minister Balkenende and other Dutch CEOs, Executive Board chairman Michiel Boersma visited president Putin earlier this month. A possible strategic cooperation with the Russian energy company Gazprom was discussed during a conversation with president. The negotiations were continued afterwards. Gazprom holds enormous gas reserves and is currently looking for new export possibilities.

Possible strategic cooperation with Gazprom was discussed

Another important issue was a possible cooperation to reduce CO2 emissions. Gazprom burns a lot of gas on its oil fields. Russia also has a large volume of so-called CO2 credits that it is currently not using. Essent offered to buy or trade these rights. Essent Trading has a lot of international expertise in this field. The profits from trading could largely finance the extraction of gas and finding another use for it. Over the next months, further negotiations about possible cooperation will take place with the Russian Gazprom.

Photo: The Dutch trade delegation visiting Putin at the Kremlin. To the upper left Michiel Boersma. (Oleg Klimov)

Published: 19 November 2007