RusEnergy

22 January 2007 - Upstream onLine - Russia will equally split all new offshore oil and gas fields between state-run players Rosneft and Gazprom, further limiting foreign and private access to its energy play, according to local media reports. Moscow-based business daily Vedomosti quoted government sources as saying the decision was taken at a meeting of President Vladimir Putin and government officials last week. Gazprom and Rosneft declined to comment when contacted by Reuters. Vedomosti said Russian officials had decided that all undistributed offshore fields would be offered only at closed auctions, which reduce chances of collecting maximum money to state coffers but guarantee no surprise winner. Analysts told Vedomosti the move was largely expected as it was part of a wider Kremlin drive to increase control over natural resources, which has seen the virtual re-nationalisation of about one-third of Russian oil production.