The government of RF is going to back up RussNeft OAO if 49% stake of Slovak Pipeline Company Transpetrol possessed by Yukos is offered for sale, of this was announced today by Andrey Sharonov, chief secretary and deputy minister of the Economic Development Ministry.
“Our official stand is such that if the contest takes place the government is going to back up RussNeft”, said he.
According to A.Sharonov, Head of the Economic Development Ministry German Greff has sent a letter to the government of Slovakia requesting to back up Russneft having applied for participation in the contest.
Presently admission of applications for participation in the contest is closed, said the deputy minister. RussNeft is the only Russian company that has applied. Speaking about foreign companies on the list of candidates A.Sharonov named Italian ENI.
“According to new Slovakia’s Economics Minister Irkho Malkharek, the Slovak government is interested in resolving the issue of the owner in such a way that it could be at most favorable for RF”, added A.Sharonov. The time of the contest is not yet set. “So far it is not known whether the current owner will want to sell out the stake”, A.Sharonov explained.
The intention of RussNeft to participate in the contest has not been announced until recently. It was reported that Tatneft and Rosneft were going to compete for Transpetrol. It was Vladimir Putin who informed end of February about Tatneft interest in the Slovak stake.
