Athens expects to agree to take part in a pipeline that would bring Russian gas to Europe via its territory, Greece's energy minister said on Friday, estimating the project would cost 2 billion euros ($2.1 billion).

Relations between Greece and Russia appear to be strengthening after Tsipras confirmed his opposition to Western sanctions on Russia. He claimed that the Greek government helped block European proposals to increase the scope of the sanctions.

The next decade will be critical for the Russian natural gas industry with the outcome largely depending on the nation’s pricing and institutional policies

The Turkish Stream pipeline project is Russia's replacement for the South Stream project, which the EU effectively put on hold due to legal issues involving the same company supplying gas and constructing and owning the pipeline transporting the gas.

Gazprom approved the deal to contribute additional capital in the amount of 75 million euro into the company South Stream Transport B.V.

Russia’s JSC Gazprom Neft has entered an agreement with Vietnam National Oil & Gas Group (PetroVietnam) to purchase a 49% interest in the 6.5 million-tonne/year Dung Quat refinery.

The United States remained the world's top producer of petroleum and natural gas hydrocarbons in 2014, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates. U.S. hydrocarbon production continues to exceed that of both Russia and Saudi Arabia, the second- and third-largest producers, respectively. For the United States and Russia, total petroleum and natural gas hydrocarbon production, in energy content terms, is almost evenly split between petroleum and natural gas. Saudi Arabia's production, on the other hand, heavily favors petroleum.

Will there be a “new deal” between natural gas marketers and producers? That was the question posed to a panel of experts, who grappled with topics such as the future of long-term contracts as well as what the price of gas will be, at the European Gas Conference in Vienna, Austria.

Preparing the ground for a much-discussed visit in Moscow (8-9 April), Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras reiterated his opposition to EU sanctions against Moscow, adding that debt-ridden country’s ambition is to upgrade its relations with Russia.

After Russia dropped the construction of the South Stream gas pipeline, Serbia is ready to look for new supply sources, and the priority according to Serbian officials, will be the interconnection with Bulgaria.