CENTRICA, the energy supply company, is in preliminary talks with Gazprom about the Russian oil and gas giant supplying gas to Britain for the first time.

Gazprom produces a fifth of the world’s gas and briefly cut off supplies to Europe over a price dispute with neighbouring Ukraine.

It is seen as a potential bidder for Centrica and the two sides are also talking about Centrica taking a stake in the vast Baltic pipeline project that will eventually link Russia with Britain.

A spokeswoman for Centrica, which supplies millions of British households via its British Gas arm, confirmed last night that it was talking to Gazprom about a supply contract beginning in 2010.

“We are just having preliminary discussions with a number of parties, including Gazprom, looking forward for what we might need beyond the next two years,” she said.

“We are aware that from 2010 onwards, we will need to have further contracts to bring gas into the UK, and we’re talking to people who might be able to do that.”

Centrica is under pressure to sign up new gas suppliers because supplies from its huge Morecambe Bay operation will soon start to dwindle.

It could import the gas from Gazprom either through the planned Baltic project or conceivably by buying shipments of liquified natural gas.

News of the talks is likely to reignite speculation that Gazprom may bid for Centrica or at least buy a stake in the company to cement the supply alliance.

While the Department of Trade and Industry has said any bid for Centrica would face “robust scrutiny” and that security of supply is paramount for Britain, Tony Blair has signalled a less hostile response, reportedly suggesting that approval of any deal could be left to the competition authorities.

Gazprom is the leading player in the Baltic pipeline project, which will initially provide a supply link to Germany and later extensions to Holland and the UK.

Soaring gas bills in Britain are partly because of the lack of access to European energy supplies as well as the more general spiralling in wholesale gas prices everywhere.

Alexander Medvedev, the Gazprom deputy chief executive, has made no secret that he regards Centrica, which is valued at £10.9 billion, as a potential acquisition target.

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