Gazprom considers unpromising purchase of Russia's largest gas field

/IRBIS, June 8, 2010/ - Gazprom considers buying one of the richest gas fields in Russia Kovykta unpromising for the near future, reported the BBC on June 7, with reference to the statement by Mr. Viktor Timoshilov head of the coordination of the eastern project of Gazprom. "From the standpoint of long-term balance... We do not see how gas from the field in general, may be relevant for the foreseeable future, both for the gasification of the region and for export," - the agency of Mr. V. Timoshilov. Currently, development license is owned by Russia Petroleum, the main shareholder of which (62.9% of shares) is a Russian-British Concern TNK-BP. However, despite the fact that an agreement on the development of Kovykta was reached in 1997, gas production still almost was not conducted. In 2007, after threats by Rusnaturecontrol revoke the license due to failure of the agreement, TNK-BP planned to sell Kovykta to Gazprom. Negotiations continued for three years, but the consent of the parties to reach could not. In February 2010, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said the company does not need resource Kovykta for gas exports to Asian countries, particularly in China. "A powerful resource base for Gazprom in Western Siberia, and later - formed a company in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), the new center of gas production can meet the future needs of the Asia-Pacific region in the Russian natural gas," - then explaining to the company. In mid-March, Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin, who oversees the primary sector, said that "brutal expropriation Kovykta will not. At the same time one of the leaders of TNK-BP's Viktor Vekselberg said that the company is ready to cede the state field for 700-900 million dollars. It is so much in his opinion, was invested in the project. Potential new owner of the deposit Vekselberg called the state-Rosneftegaz, which holds controlling stakes in Gazprom, as well as the state oil company Rosneft. Nevertheless, about any decision so far not been reported, but last week executives of the company Russia Petroleum has filed an application to start bankruptcy proceedings. Kovykta is one of the largest gas fields in Russia. Opened in 1987. Located 450 km from Irkutsk in the north area in Zhigalovo and Kazachinsko-Lena areas. The deposit contains about 2 trillion. cu. m. of gas and more than 83 million tons of gas condensate. [2010-06-08]