Israel is certainly a possible client for receiving Russian gas, Russian President Vladimir Putin said yesterday in response to a question at a press conference about Russia's expansion of activity in the energy sector. Referring to Russian energy policy, which has recently come under fire due to claims of misuse of its monopoly, mainly in natural gas, Putin rejected claims that Russia is using economic leverage to obtain political ends.

Energy Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer will depart to Moscow tomorrow to hold a series of meetings with the heads of Gazprom and the Russian Ministry of Energy to discuss the supply of natural gas to Israel. Gazprom is the largest natural gas company in the world, commanding about a quarter of all natural gas in the world.

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During his visit Ben-Eliezer will also promote the "infrastructure corridor," in which Russia is expected to play a key role. The project involves laying 610 km of pipes on the seabed between Turkey and Israel, mainly to supply natural gas and oil. Supply of water and electricity is also under consideration. The project, which is now undergoing joint feasibility tests, will cost more than an estimated $2 billion. Ben-Eliezer will attempt to recruit Russia to the initiative, which will substantially advance the project.