Total To Buy Novatek Stake

French oil corporation Total, Europe's third-largest oil producer is likely to buy 25 percent of Russian independent gas producer Novatek, Igor Shuvalov, the advisor of President Vladimir Putin, said.

"Total is a large company and I believe that if they want to set up a strategic partnership with Russian companies in Russia and abroad, there is every reason for them to be able to do so, ? he said.