The European Commission is trying to prevent Gazprom from signing a long-term natural gas accord with Poland due to fears over the limited possibilities for diversification in Europe if such a deal goes ahead. ‘Russia is using Poland as a test case to see if it can get around EU legislation.‘ Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has suggested that unnamed German companies are considering joining the South Stream gas pipeline project. The President of Turkmenistan has apparently fired the head of state-run Turkmengaz due to ‘serious shortcomings‘. Iran is in talks with a Sino-Australian consortium that may help it to develop its three of its thirteen oil fields, with a potential investment of $665 million.