The Russian oil company Lukoil bargain on becoming the operator of the Turkmen-Azerbaijani Dostluk (Friendship) field in the Caspian Sea.  This was announced by the head of Lukoil Vagit Alekperov at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Interfax reports.

According to Alekperov, consultations on the project are underway and a new intergovernmental agreement is being prepared. Lukoil hopes to become the operator of the field, but does not yet know what share of the project will go to the company.

The Memorandum of Understanding on joint exploration, development and development of the Dostluk field between Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan was signed in January 2021. The participation of Lukoil in the development of the Dostluk field was previously discussed at a meeting between President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Vagit Alekperov in February 2021.

In May, at the International Forum on Attracting Investments in the Oil and Gas Sector of Turkmenistan, held in Ashgabat, Deputy Chairman of the State Concern “Turkmengas” Guvanch Aghajanov noted that the development of the Dostluk field would open up new opportunities for the country to export natural gas to the west.