Eni Expects Gazprom Deal in Months

Chief Executive of Italian energy firm Eni, Paolo Scaroni, has said he expects a deal for better prices to be reached between Eni and Gazprom within a couple of months.

Speaking after a meeting with EU Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger, Mr. Scaroni said he foresaw a deal being reached with Gazprom soon.

"'I am confident that an agreement will be found," Reuters reports the chief executive as saying. "I hope within a couple of months."

However, Mr. Scaroni also said that Eni was not overconfident in the discussions, hinting that Gazprom was in a better position than Eni in the negotiations.

"Gazprom can sell its gas to the the entire world," Italian news AGI.it reported. "Do not believe that we have by any means the the upper hand."

Italy's heavy reliance on Russia for gas supply was sharply highlighted in recent weeks, as the country faced a gas crisis when Gazprom supplies could not get through to the country in high enough volumes in a recent cold snap. Italy was forced to declare a State of Emergency in response to the crisis, with many businesses forced to reduce or do without gas and many households left powerless until the situation improved.