<p>The project, which would be 51%-owned by Gazprom and 49%-owned by a foreign joint venture company, would mark Gazprom's entry into the liquefied natural gas market (LNG), the publication revealed. The plant in the Leningrad region could have a capacity of up to five million tonnes of LNG per year.<br /><br />The possibility of BP's participation was revealed by Gazprom's deputy chief executive Alexander Medvedev. According to industry publication Upstreamonline, Mr Medvedev told Reuters that BP is definitely on the list, and that Gazprom is planning a committee meeting to establish the viability of the LNG project. <br /><br />Upstreamonline reported that, in April 2007, the LNG project's leader, Alexander Krasnenkov, had said that the shortlist of four potential partners included one from Europe, one from Canada and one from Japan.<br /><br />Industry observers are speculating that these companies could include Mitsui, Mitsubishi, BG Group and TNK-BP, as they have voiced interest in the project. Gazprom has also said that it may build the LNG plant with PetroCanada. <br /><br />Upstreamonline said that the other companies on the list have not been confirmed by Gazprom, even though the final announcement was expected in September 2006. However, Mr Medvedev is reported to have said that if the committee decides to proceed with the project, talks with possible partners will be stepped up over the summer. <br /><br />The Times Online also revealed that Mr Medvedev has denied reports that Gazprom is looking to acquire either Centrica or Scottish and Southern Energy in the UK.</p>
