Russia considers end of state offshore field monopoly

摘要

London—Russia is considering amendments to its subsoil legislation to eliminate current restrictions that make only state-run companies eligible to develop the country’s vast offshore reserves, effectively granting access to a greater number of companies, according to a draft law posted on the website of Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service August 1. Under the current law, adopted in 2008, licenses for offshore fields can only be granted to companies in which the state controls over 50% and which have at least five years of operating history in Russia’s offshore industry. This clause only leaves state-run Gazprom and Rosneft eligible.