MOSCOW (Dow Jones)--Russian gas monopoly OAO Gazprom (GAZP.RS) will close its purchase of a controlling stake in the Kovykta gas field by the end of March, Prime-Tass news agency reported Wednesday, citing one of the selling shareholders.
The sides had originally hoped to close the transaction - which envisages the sale by Russia-British oil venture OAO TNK-BP (TNBP.RS) of 62.8% of Kovykta operator Rusia Petroleum and 50% of the East Siberian Gas Company - this year.
"It's a technical issue linked to TNK-BP's owners," Viktor Vekselberg said. Vekselberg is one of the Russian shareholders in TNK-BP, the others being Alfa Group and Access Industries.