The Netherlands and Russia have ‘serious plans’ to extend their alliance on energy projects, news agency Bloomberg quoted Russian president Dmitry Medvedev as saying at the weekend.

‘We can advance on Tamal projects,’ Medvedev told reporters after meetings with Dutch prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende and Shell CEO Jeroen van der Veer. Medvedev was in the Netherlands for a short visit.
Shell is seeking a greater role in the gas-rich Yamal region and Russia expects 20% of its natural gas output to come from the Artic peninsula by 2020, Bloomberg said.
Medvedev said the Netherlands’ support for Gazprom’s Nord Stream gas pipeline linking Russia to Germany is a ‘positive example’ of cooperation with European partners.
The Netherland wants to become the gas hub of Europe.
Russia was the Netherlands’ second largest trading partner last year, Bloomberg said.