State-controlled Russian gas giant Gazprom is examining a possible entry into the UK retail gas market, a spokesman for the company's UK unit said on Sunday.
The world's largest gas producer already has a small wholesale business which provides gas to businesses, and Philip Dewhurst said the company was now looking at supplying homes.
"We're looking at the possibility. We're doing an internal feasibility study," he said.
Traditionally an exporter of gas to large European utilities, Gazprom is now keen to control the value chain all the way down to the consumer.
European politicians fear the company may use control of European pipelines and distribution networks to do the Kremlin's bidding.
Gazprom denies this and says previous threats to cut off gas to neighbours, such as Ukraine, were due to business rather than political disputes.
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