UPDATE: CEO says Russia’s Lukoil still interested in buying Bashneft

(Adds details in third paragraph)

ST. PETERSBURG, Apr 29 (PRIME) -- Russian oil major Lukoil is still interested in the purchase of a stake in oil company Bashneft even under the current oil prices of close to U.S. $50 per barrel, CEO Vagit Alekperov told reporters Friday.

“Yes,” he said. “Consultants are working on that. We are interested. I don’t know what price we will put forward. We will pay real money based on the real economy of Bashneft.”

Alliance Oil, a unit of Russia’s Independent Oil and Gas Company of businessman Eduard Khudainatov, also confirmed its interest in a stake in Bashneft. Alliance Oil’s CFO Leonid Bidny said in a conference call that the talks area going on, “but management of Alliance Oil would not like to disclose details.”

The Russian government owns 50.08% in Bashneft and the government of the republic of Bashkortostan holds 25% plus one share. On April 20, Alekperov said that Lukoil expects the government to sell its whole stake, but Bashneft CEO Alexander Korsik said that retention of a certain degree of control over the company by the federal government is preferable.

End