Rosneft, Gazprom in New Arctic Clash

摘要

Russia’s state-controlled heavyweights Rosneft and Gazprom have again crossed swords on the country’s oiland gas-rich Arctic shelf as the duo struggle to boost their offshore reserves for future exploration and development. Meanwhile, top private-sector oil producer Lukoil has triumphed in a dispute with Rosneft over the Arctic East-Taimyr acreage. First Deputy Natural Resources Minister Denis Khramov told journalists that the ministry is planning an auction for the Murmanskoye field in the Barents Sea sought by both Gazprom and Rosneft. “This is a simple logic - the one who wants it more should pay more to the budget,” he said, adding that some minor changes are required to the legislation to carry out an auction.