Gazprom To Get Stake In Gazprom Neft

Gazprom intends to exercise an option to acquire a 20-percent stake in its oil arm Gazprom Neft from Italy's ENI, despite the latter company's desire to retain that stake, spokesman for the Russian energy holding Sergei Kupriyanov told RBC. Commenting on today's announcement by ENI CEO Paolo Scaroni that the Italian company would like to keep the stake, Kupriyanov reiterated that it had always had that ambition.

However, Gazprom holds the option and plans to exercise it, he stressed. He did not specify what ENI had offered to Gazprom to retain the stake.