In October, state-run natural gas monopoly Gazprom unexpectedly announced it would proceed with the project to develop the Shtokman natural gas field on its own, saying that none of the previously short-listed companies had proposed acceptable terms for the development of the deposit.
The offshore deposit is the only source of natural gas for the Nord Stream gas pipeline that will soon link Russia to Germany along the Baltic seabed.
But President Vladimir Putin said the issue of foreign participation in the development of the Shtokman deposit is not final, and could be considered if potential foreign partners offer interesting proposals.
Putin said Gazprom's decision was linked to the unwillingness of potential foreign partners to grant access to European or American consumer markets, leading to a deadlock in talks with Gazprom.
"As far as I know, during the talks Gazprom sought access to consumer gas markets in Europe and the United States in exchange for foreign participation in the Shtokman deposit," Putin said.
In a separate development, Russian presidential aide Igor Shuvalov told a briefing in Washington that foreign companies are welcome to take part in the Shtokman project.
"The Shtokman project will be developed jointly with foreign companies," he said. "Gazprom will be the sole owner of a [development] license, but it is unable to develop the deposit alone."
Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said earlier that foreign companies are welcome to join the Shtokman project as contractors.
Gazprom's shortlist of potential foreign partners in the lucrative Shtokman project included Norway's Statoil and Norsk Hydro, France's Total, and U.S. oil majors Chevron and ConocoPhillips.
