MOSCOW, APRIL 20, (RIA Novosti) - The Russian Industry and Energy Ministry supports Gazprom's striving to take part in Sakhalin projects, the country's Industry and Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko said here today.
"The Government of the Russian Federation has decided that Gazprom shall coordinate the Eastern Siberian and Far Eastern gas-sector development program," Khristenko noted. "Certainly, we support Gazprom's possible participation in Sakhalin projects and the Kovykta project within this program's framework," the Minister said.
Previously, Gazprom board member and Gazexport chief executive officer Alexander Medvedev said that Gazprom and Shell had nearly reached accords on providing Gazprom with a stake in the Sakhalin-2 project.
According to Medvedev, Gazprom can receive 25 percent of all Sakhalin-2 shares (plus one share) in exchange for its 50-percent stake in developing the Zapolyarnoye deposit's Neokom seam (that would be received by Shell).
"We have come close to signing all the main basic-accord provisions. Participation in our assets is possible only if the foreign partner provides equivalent strategically important assets, " Medvedev stressed.
Shell people are saying that the talks have made headway, but that no official documents have been signed to date.
