Russian gas monopoly OAO Gazprom (GAZP.RS) is reconsidering its recently-proposed budget for 2009 and has inquired about receiving financial support from the state, business daily Vedomosti reported Wednesday citing several unnamed sources.
One government official told the paper that Gazprom has considered three options: issuing long-maturity infrastructure bonds, issuing additional shares and using project financing.
Separately, the paper cites two unnamed Gazprom managers as saying that the company has been offered help by state development bank VEB, which is distributing funds on behalf of the government support program. These managers say that VEB could also buy convertible bonds issued by Gazprom.
A spokesman for Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told the paper that all these options have been discussed by the government, while a spokesman for Gazprom told the paper that the company isn't considering an additional share issue.
Gazprom earlier this month approved its draft investment program for 2009, envisaging an investment of 920.44 billion rubles ($33.8 billion).