MOSCOW, November 1 (RIA Novosti) - Russia could slash oil export duty from $372.2 per metric ton to $287.3, a drop of around 22%, later on Saturday, a government source said.

"This decision was made at a government meeting on Friday," the source said.

Another government source said the government was discussing the possibility of an oil customs duty cut by enforcing retroactively the government's resolution on export duties for October-November.

"This decision may be made to reduce the tax burden on oil companies amid the declining Urals blend price. Owing to the fact that November has already begun, this can be done by giving the document a retroactive effect," the source said.

The falling oil price, currently at around half its $147/bbl highpoint reached in July, has dealt a severe blow to Russia's economy, which depends heavily on revenue from oil sales.

The source said that with the export duty at $287.3 per ton, the export duty on light petroleum products could be $205.9 per ton against the current $263.1, and $110.9 for heavy oil products against the current rate of $141.7 per ton.

Meanwhile, Alexander Sakovich, deputy head of the Finance Ministry's customs payment department, said on Saturday he had no information on any decision to cut oil export duty to $287.3 per ton and switch to two-week monitoring of world prices of Urals blend from the current two-month arrangement.

However, Sakovich said these scenarios were possible. "Retroactive force is possible because the issue of cutting the tax burden is under discussion"

Sakovich said earlier on Saturday that the government would cut crude export duty from the current $372.2 to $306.5 per metric ton as of December 1, in line with trends on world oil markets.

"The Urals blend price averaged at $83.44 per barrel on world markets in September-October. Therefore, in line with existing legislation, export duty will be $306.5 per metric ton as of December 1," Sakovich said.