MOSCOW, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Russia's LUKoil corporation may seek to buy Yukos' main production unit, Yuganskneftegaz, the Moscow Times reported Tuesday.
A senior LUKoil executive said Monday his company would consider participating in a sell-off of the unit, also known as Yugansk, if the sale was conducted by open tender, the paper said.
"If the tender is open, then it is our duty to our shareholders to consider any possibilities, including this one," LUKoil Vice President Leonid Fedun told reporters.
Fedun said he was personally against his company making a bid for Yugansk but other members of the LUKoil board could be considering it. Yugansk is being sold as part of the Kremlin's controversial legal onslaught against Yukos to cover outstanding back tax debts, currently totaling about $3.75 billion.
Fedun said LUKoil would make a final decision on whether to take part in the sell-off after the sale terms are disclosed.
