By Marina Sysoyeva on June 21, 2012
Statoil ASA (STL) wants Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA) to become the main foreign partner in development of the Shtokman offshore natural gas project in Russia, RIA Novosti reported.
Statoil sent a letter to OAO Gazprom proposing the change, the Russian news agency reported, citing an unnamed person familiar with the matter. Gazprom owns 51 percent of Shtokman Development AG, Statoil owns 24 percent and France’s Total SA (FP) owns 25 percent. The report didn’t say if Statoil is seeking a replacement for Total or to reduce the company’s stake in the project.