Abbas discusses energy with Putin

PA head Mahmoud Abbas discussed joint PA and Russian efforts toward extracting energy resources in the occupied Palestinian territory during talks with his Russian counterpart in Moscow Tuesday, the PA ambassador to Russia said.

Ambassador Abdel Hafiz Nofal told Ma'an that Abbas and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the potential involvement of Russian companies in the extraction of gas and oil in the territory, according to MAAN.

Nofal said that a senior PA delegation would be sent to Russia in the coming weeks to further examine the possibility of cooperation.

The delegation would also seek to restructure the PA energy sector more closely on Russia's model, he said.

The ambassador added that PA may also look into importing energy resources from Russia, with the aim of alleviating economic dependency on Israel created through decades of military occupation.