Russian Gazprom and Italian Eni signed a document allowing Electricite de France (EdF) to join the South Stream project, the Russian Prime Minister said during his visit to France.
      
      The French company may obtain a 10% stake in the project. Up to this moment Gazprom and Eni hold the equal stakes South Stream AG, the operator of the gas pipeline, scheduled to be completed by 2015. The project is part of Russia's efforts to cut dependence on transit nations. It is a rival project to the EU-backed Nabucco, which would bypass Russia.
      
      Electricite de France's principal activity is to generate and distribute energy in the form of electricity and gas. The Group operates under four segments: Generation and Supply, Distribution, Transmission & Others. Under Generation and Supply, the Group generates electricity and gas from sources like nuclear, thermal, hydroelectric and other renewable energies to businesses, local authorities, professionals and residents.
      
      source:
      www.lenta.ru