Samaras sends letter to Putin asking for cheaper gas rates, reports say
Greece is pushing for better rates from Russia’s gas giant Gazprom, local reports said Monday.
According to the reports, Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin in late July asking for a discount on exports of Russian gas to Greece following price cuts to other European clients.
Athens says it is buying Russian gas at a rate 30 percent higher than the European average. A reduction in energy costs is seen as crucial in bolstering the country’s poor competitiveness.
Greek gas firm DEPA recently asked Gazprom for a price reduction.
