Norwegian Statoil has proposed that Gazprom invite Royal Dutch Shell to be its main foreign partner in the long-delayed project to develop Russia's big Shtokman gas field in the Barents Sea, a source at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum told the Prime news agency on Thursday.
Statoil suggested, and Gazprom agreed, that the three companies hold talks on the project next week, the source said.
Statoil currently has a 24 percent stake in the Shtokman project, French Total has 25 percent and Gazprom - 51 percent. But their shareholder agreement expires on July 1.
"Statoil has sent Gazprom a letter saying that Statoil would be ready to participate in a Shtokman project partnership in which Shell is the main foreign partner and suggests that Gazprom begin three-party talks on the issue," the source said. "The proposal was discussed at the forum in St. Petersburg and Gazprom agreed to conduct those talks next week, given that the current agreement expires soon."
