MOSCOW, December 21 (RIA Novosti) - Russian energy giant Gazprom [RTS: GAZP] said Thursday its net profit, calculated to International Financial Reporting Standards, rose 120% in the first half of 2006, year-on-year, to 332.2 billion rubles ($12.64 billion).

Net revenues from natural gas sales to post-Soviet countries rose 124%, year-on-year, to 102.56 billion rubles ($3.85 billion), while domestic sales were up 17%, at 191.06 billion rubles ($7.18 billion).

Operating expenses rose 71% in the reporting period, to 686.4 billion rubles ($25.7 billion), which the company attributed to consolidation of Gazpromneft, formerly Sibneft, a subsidiary of Gazprom.