Gazprom To Buy YUKOS Sub

Russian gas monopoly Gazprom probably will buy Yukos? unit Yuganskneftegaz, according to an analyst with the FINAM investment company.

She explained her point of view by saying the not a single investor will take part in an auction on selling Yuganskneftegaz despite the very good price ($4bn), because the risks are too high.

The analyst emphasized that after Gazprom acquires Yuganskneftegaz, its annual oil production will amount to more than 80m tons, which can be compared to LUKoil's production. Gazpromneft may become Russia's largest oil producing company. Yuganskneftegaz, may became a real boon for the national gas giant.

However, according to a Sovlink analyst, Gazprom is a less probable buyer of Yuganskneftegaz than Surgutneftegas or Sibneft because it is more profitable for these two companies to buy this asset.