Taking a decision requires finalization of the NOVATEK on-going restructuring, he noted.
As reported earlier, the protocol on Total's buying a 25 percent-plus-one-share of NOVATEK's authorized capital was inked in September 2004 within the Russian company's adopted development strategy towards the consolidation of assets and realization of refining projects. Controlling interest remains with the Russian companies.
Established in 1994, NOVATEK is Russia's biggest independent producer of gas. Its authorized capital is 3,036,306 ordinary 100-ruble shares. Its biggest shareholders are the ZAO Levit (46.56 percent), Cypriot offshore company SWGI (40.65 percent), NP Yamal Regional Development Fund (5.61 percent), OOO Direct Investment Company of the Fuel@Energy Complex (3.74 percent).
The company's biggest hydrocarbon fields- Yurkharovskoe, East-Tarkosalinskoe, Khancheiskoe - lie in the Yamal-Nenets autonomous area.