Qatar, Russia Discuss Joint LNG Project

* username: rupertbu

Russia and Qatar--two of the world's biggest producers of natural gas--are in talks on a joint project involving liquified natural gas, a sign that producing nations are stepping up efforts to coordinate future investments and possibly output levels.

Qatar has invited Russian state-controlled gas giant OAO Gazprom (GAZP.RS) to participate in an LNG project at Qatar's Northern Field, the Russian company said Thursday, following talks between Gazprom Chief Executive Alexei Miller and high-level Qatari officials.

The project may only go ahead after 2014, when a moratorium on increased production at the field is lifted.