UPDATE 1-GDF says interested in marketing Shtokman gas

(Adds quotes, Touat)

STAVANGER, Norway Aug 27 (Reuters) - France's GDF Suez (GSZ.PA), Europe's largest utility, is interested in marketing gas from the Shtokman project in the remote Barents Sea when it comes onstream, a senior company executive said on Wednesday.

"Shtokman is really important for EU, Europe and we are very interested in marketing of gas from Shtokman," Jean-Francios Cirelli, vice chairman and president of GDF Suez told an industry conference.

He also said political support would be essential for new projects to come onstream.

"We know all projects will not succeed without strong political support from our government and the EU," he said.

Relations between the West and Russia have hit new lows after Moscow's military foray into Georgia, following a gradual cooling over years due in part to friction with foreign investors, seen by analysts as aimed at installing Russian control over energy projects.

Gazprom has a 51 percent stake in Shtokman while Norway's StatoilHydro (STL.OL) has 24 percent and France's Total (TOTF.PA) 25 percent.

The shareholders are drafting the field's development plan and are due to make a final investment decision in the second half of 2009.

In the first phase due on stream in 2013, Shtokman is expected to produce 11 billion cubic metres a year of gas. In 2014, some 7.5 MTA of liquefied natural gas (LNG) would also be shipped to Europe and the United States, Shtokman Development AG Chief Executive Yuri Komarov told delegates at the conference.

GDF's Cirelli said diversification of gas sources would be necessary for Europe's supply security, while the area would continue to rely on traditional suppliers, with Russia being the dominant one.

"The current major suppliers, namely Russia, Norway and Algeria, will not change," he said.

"Europe has a gas challenge. Every month, Europe imports more (gas) than the annual consumption of Belgium. We need new suppliers," he said, citing Central Asia and the Middle East.

Cirelli also said GDF's project to develop the Touat gas field in southern Algeria was on track and would come onstream between 2011 and 2012.

"We have just agreed with the Algerian authorities on transportation of gas," he said. "The only thing which should be decided is commercialisation of the gas."

He said GDF has not decided if the project would be for liquefied natural gas.

Last year, GDF said the investment represented $1 billion.

GDF signed a contract in 2003 with the Algerian authorities for exploration rights at Touat. It is the sole operator of the field with a 75 percent stake. (Reporting by Ikuko Kao; editing by James Jukwey)