While we are still recovering from EPCA
Here I am at the World Gas Conference in sunny
You see, each company has a 'stall' at the conference. It's the biggest exhibition I've ever seen. There must be 1,000 stalls. Some of them are bigger than a house. Some have women dancing outside them, Formula One cars, free booze. And then there's the Gazprom 'stall'. It's the size of a temple with an ice skating rink in front of it. Word is that the Russian girls who skate on it are some of the best in the world. It's the biggest stand in the most prominent position, it really is quite amazing.
But the best bit was the speech by Alexey Miller - Gazprom's top dog. One of several keynote speeches, and everyone showed up to listen. We sat on the second row from the front. It felt like we were sitting a bit too close to the front of the church at not-a-very-good friend's wedding. Surrounded by Russians, some of them big, some keeping a very good eye on us, it seemed.
Then the main guy Miller appeared and gave a straight-talking speech - in Russian of course. He told us about Gazprom and their plans for the future - they really do have a finger in every gas pie. The top man at
So, as Mr Miller came down from the platform to leave, there stood my intrepid, some might say fool-hardy boss, pen in one hand, dictaphone in the other, ready to pounce. Not a chance. Brushed aside in an instant.
I was perhaps equally foolish trying to get an impromptu word with the E.ON chief and was equally quickly despatched. All this insignificant reporter can say is that Germanic-sounding English may not be the most soothing of languages but in this case even when making it clear it was futile asking any questions it really was rather reassuring...
PS
(photo Gazprom)
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