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Russian state-run energy giants Rosneft and Gazprom will be granted licenses to explore oil and natural gas at听four fields in听Russian听Arctic, a Russian official said Wednesday.听
"Rosneft and Gazprom will soon receive new licenses for听the development of听four fields on听the shelf,"听Minister of听Natural Resources听Sergei Donskoi said,听according to Russian听news agency Sputnik.听
Reminding that the government proposed in April to suspend approving licenses from Russian Arctic, Donskoi said his ministry continues to work as usual until a final decision is made by Moscow.听
"The proposal [to suspend issuing shelf licenses] has been considered, but听we continue to听issue licenses under听the current legislation.听Today, the law stipulates the noncompetitive issuing of听licenses to听develop fields on听the shelf," Sputnik quoted him saying.听
Moscow听proposed in April to听suspend听issuing oil and gas licenses for exploration and extraction in听Russian听shelf deposits, until听a final decision was made about听giving private companies access to听the Russian shelf,听Sputnik noted.听
听Rosneft and Gazprom are the only two state-owned companies in the country that are given听licenses to听explore oil and gas in Russia's听Arctic shelf.
A joint venture between听Rosneft and U.S. oil giant ExxonMobil announced discovering huge oil resources in Kara Sea at听the Arctic听last year on听September. However, due to the western sanctions on Russia, the U.S. energy company had to withdraw from the region a month later.听
By Ovunc Kutlu
Anadolu Agency
ovunc.kutlu@aa.com.tr
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