Top executives with giant Russian energy company Gazprom met in Anchorage this week with aides to Gov. Sarah Palin as well as executives from oil company Conoco Phillips and Arctic Slope Regional Corp.

Gazprom, a government-controlled natural gas producer also involved in Russia's banking and telecom industries, sent a delegation of a dozen people who met with Alaska's natural resources commissioner, Tom Irwin, Kevin Banks, state oil and gas director, Jim Mulva, Conoco's chief executive and other Alaskans.

"It was emphasized at the meetings and seminars that the working conditions in the traditional areas of Gazprom's business activity were similar to the ones in Alaska," said a Gazprom press release issued Tuesday. "Gazprom has gained an extensive experience in hydrocarbon field development, gas pipeline construction and operation, environmental protection and resolution of social problems in the Extreme North environment. Gazprom's experience will be used while implementing similar projects in Alaska."

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