Russia's largest independent gas producer Novatek is among 15 companies interested in developing the Montenegro shelf and producing hydrocarbons, the Montenegran Economy Ministry said on Friday.
"Basing on surveys done in the southern part of the Adriatic Sea, a lot of promising sites with commercially attractive oil and gas fields were discovered," the ministry said.
In 2010, Montenegro's government approved granting concessions for geological surveys and oil production. In December, the ministry asked companies interested in concessions to file their bids.
Serbia's NIS, controlled by Gazprom Neft, several companies from the U.S., Britain, Italy, Greece, Hungary, France, Croatia and Norway filed their bids together with Novatek.
BELGRADE, February 18 ( RIA Novosti)
