Russian gas monopoly Gazprom chief Alexei Miller says he expects imminent development on a natural gas pipeline bound for the Chinese economy. File photo by Anatoli Zhdanov/UPI June 30 (UPI) — Russian natural gas company Gazprom expects to sign off on developments to increase its footprint in the Asian market, the company’s top executive said. “Today we’re finalizing the discussion of the exact schedule for the launch of supplies via the ‘eastern route’ in compliance with the contract,” Gazprom Chief Executive Alexei Miller was quoted by Russian news agency Tass as saying. “The plan is to sign the relevant document in nearest days.” The eastern route refers to the so-called Power of Siberia natural gas pipeline. Gazprom has a 30-year sales agreement with China National Petroleum Corp. that calls for 1.3 trillion cubic feet of natural gas per year through the pipeline. Russian President Vladimir Putin described the 2,500-mile […]