2 September 2010 Last updated at 07:11 ET

Gazprom profits triple as cold winter boosts demand

Gazprom supplies about one quarter of all Europe's gas

Russian gas monopoly Gazprom has reported a threefold surge in profits for the first three months of the year, as the cold winter boosted demand.

Net profit came in at 325bn roubles ($10.6bn; £6.9bn), compared with 103.7bn roubles a year earlier.

Sales volumes to Europe rose by 37%, which helped to offset a fall in gas prices of 36%, boosting overall revenue to 957bn roubles.

Gazprom supplies about one quarter of all Europe's gas needs.

The company also said revenues were boosted by a 53bn rouble gain on foreign currency movements, compared with a loss of 149bn roubles a year earlier.

It was also able to cut its debt levels by almost a third, to 977bn roubles, during the quarter.

Earlier this week, the European Commission said it was concerned about a proposed gas deal between Russia and Poland.

It said the pipeline between the two countries should be managed independently and open to third-party suppliers.

However, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that, despite the Commission's reservations, the deal should be signed within a matter of days.