Gazprom reiterates will buy unit stake from Eni
MOSCOW, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Russia's Gazprom (GAZP.MM: Quote, Profile, Research) reiterated on Tuesday it would exercise its option to buy 20 percent in oil subsidiary Gazprom Neft (SIBN.MM: Quote, Profile, Research) from Italy's Eni (ENI.MI: Quote, Profile, Research), as planned, before April 2009.
"The option programme (to buy out Gazprom Neft's stake) will be fulfilled in time," Stanislav Tsygankov, head of Gazprom's external economic activities department, told reporters.
ENI bought the stake in Gazprom Neft at a state auction of bankrupt oil firm YUKOS in April 2007 and immediately agreed to sell the stake to Gazprom within two years.
Eni Chief Executive Paolo Scaroni said in October that Gazprom has earmarked about $4.5 billion for it.
Gazprom, Russia's gas export monopoly, currently owns 75 percent of Gazprom Neft. (Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; Writing by Tanya Mosolova; Editing by Erica Billingham)
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