Gazprom: rebound in European gas demand to continue

MOSCOW, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Russian gas export monopoly Gazprom (GAZP.MM) expects to meet its target of exporting 142-143 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas in 2009 as demand continues to rebound, company officials said on Monday.

Russia's monopoly gas exporter expects to deliver 45 bcm to Europe in the fourth quarter of 2009, Sergei Chelpanov, deputy general director of Gazprom's export division, said during a conference call with analysts and reporters.

Sales in Russia are likely to be 7 percent lower in 2009 than last year, said Gennady Sukhov, in charge of resource distribution in Gazprom's financial department.

Gazprom officials said gas supply volumes to Europe had reached a minimum in April and that, in July, they exceeded volumes seen in recent years.

They added Ukraine had been "diligent" in paying for gas to date and that the company hoped this would continue. (Reporting by John Bowker and Katya Golubkova, writing by Robin Paxton)