Russ Oil-Gas

June 01, 2007 Kommersan.ru - Gazprom’s target is to become the biggest subsoil operator in the Sakhalin shelf and the monopoly is still interested in Sakahal-3 and Sakhalin-4 projects, Gazprom Management Committee Deputy Chairman Alexander Medvedev declared yesterday. Meanwhile, the license of Gazprom’s Gazprom Neft for Lopukhov block (the juncture of Sakhalin-4 and Sakhalin-5 projects) expires today and Federal Agency for Subsoil Use (Rosnedra) has showed no will to extend it. ”Participation in the Sakhalin-3 tender of Natural Resources Ministry is one of our priorities. We are waiting for provisions to be set forth for this project. Sakhalin-4 project is also the subject of our interest. We are willing to become the biggest subsoil operator in the Sakhalin shelf,” Medvedev made clear yesterday. Gazprom that currently owns 50 percent plus a stock in Sakhalin Energy, the operator of Sakhalin-2 project, announces from time to time the ambitions plans for the Sakhalin. Quite soon, however, the monopoly could be stripped of one of its licenses there. The geological exploration license for Lupukhov block of TNK-Sakhalin (Gazprom Neft owns 75 percent and Sakhalin Oil Co. holds 25 percent) expires today. But due to the violations revealed by inspections of Natural Resources Ministry (September 2006) and confirmed by Rosnedra (April 2007) the company was recommended to voluntary part with the license with any and all prolongation excluded. The final decision against extending the license was made past week, said an anonymous source close to Rosnedra. The negotiations are still underway; they are slated for today actually, Gazprom Neft representatives Natalia Vyalkina assured.