MOSCOW: Russia’s energy giant Gazprom said it was in discussion with France’s Total about a new agreement concerning the now-frozen development of the Shtokman natural gas field under the Barents Sea.

Gazprom said the two companies “reached an agreement to prepare a roadmap for the purpose of signing a new agreement concerning the project’s implementation.”

The project — which once also included Statoil as a partner until the Norwegian firm dropped out — was frozen in August because of cost overruns.

Gazprom said also discussed at the meeting with Total were “the prospects of the joint implementation of the Shtokman project, and the possibly of lowering the capital and operational expenses.”

Gazprom had said last year that it wants to switch the field to liquefied natural gas production because of dropping European demand for piped gas.

Total said it was still interested in pipeline gas for Europe and not certain that the money it had put up for initial exploration was going to full effect.