Russia 's energy ministry is considering a request from the country's largest independent natural-gas producer, OAO Novatek (NVTK.RS), to grant an exception to state-controlled OAO Gazprom's (GAZP.RS) monopoly on liquefied natural gas exports, Russian newswires quoted the energy minister as saying Tuesday.

The request "is under consideration, but there's no final decision. We'll prepare the relevant recommendations by the new year," Alexander Novak was quoted as saying.

Gazprom, the world's largest gas producer, is the only company allowed by law to export gas. But analysts have suggested Novatek could be granted permission to export, and Novatek co-owner Gennady Timchenko told the Russian edition of Forbes last month that the company is lobbying for changes to the law.

"Purely theoretically, such an option is possible with regard to LNG. But in what form, using what form of legal contracts, including with Gazprom Export, we're now considering this," Mr. Novak was quoted as saying.

Novatek, which is part-owned by France 's Total SA (TOT), is building an LNG plant on the Yamal peninsula in Russia 's Arctic . Production is set to begin in 2016.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday told Novatek Chief Executive Leonid Mikhelson to work with Gazprom's export arm to secure foreign sales contracts.

Mr. Novak also said gas production in Russia would rise slightly to 677 billion cubic meters this year from 671 billion in 2011. He said output could rise to 950 billion cubic meters per year by 2030, with the growth in demand expected mainly from Asia .

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