The Russian shareholders in TNK-BP, a joint oil venture with oil major BP, issued a new statement on Thursday denying plans to sell out to a Russian state-controlled company.
The statement followed a report in business daily Vedomosti that state-controlled gas export monopoly Gazprom will buy half of TNK-BP from the Russian owners by the end of the year for up to $20 billion.
"We think it is necessary to again confirm our position which remains unchanged -- all speculations and rumours about AAR's plans to sell its stake in TNK-BP are wrong and have no basis," the statement said.
AAR stands for Alfa/Access/Renova -- the three holding companies representing the interests of Russian owners
Source: Reuters
