UPDATE: Min: Rosneft to pay 50% of net profit in dividends in 2018

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MOSCOW, Oct 18 (PRIME) -- Russian oil major Rosneft will pay 50% of net profit in dividends in 2018, similar payments by gas giant Gazprom and oil pipeline monopoly Transneft is being considered, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said on Wednesday at the State Duma, the parliament’s lower house.

“We are gradually introducing the size of dividends for all companies with state ownership based on 50% (of net profit). Next year Rosneft will pay 50%, there are already agreements and it was confirmed by the company’s management. We should yet study this issue additionally with two large companies – this is Gazprom and Transneft,” he said.

“I’m sure that we will move in this direction, because return from all state companies should be equal. And effectiveness of companies’ operations is, among other factors, estimated based on the possibility to pay 50%.”

Siluanov did not rule out that state energy holding Rosneftegaz will pay dividends for January–September.

“They (Rosneftegaz) have paid for half a year, it is not ruled out that possibly (they will also pay) for nine months,” he said. “There is no directive yet, we are yet preparing, considering.”

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