* Deputy PM says China's loan to Rosneft was discussed
* Sources say Rosneft may double oil flows to China for aloan
* Rosneft in $55 bln acquisition of TNK-BP
MOSCOW, Feb 27 (Reuters) - China may lend Rosneft money to help finance a proposed increase in oil supplies,Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich was quoted bynews agency Interfax as saying on Wednesday.
Industry sources had previously told Reuters that Rosneft isseeking to borrow up to $30 billion from Chinese state energyfirm CNPC in exchange for possibly doubling oil supplies, whichwould make Beijing the largest consumer of Russian oil anddivert supplies away from Europe.
"It (a loan) is not ruled out. This was discussed by Rosneftand a Chinese bank," Dvorkovich, who is responsible for Russia'senergy sector, was quoted as saying by Interfax.
A Rosneft spokeswoman declined immediate comment.
Rosneft already supplies China, the world's top energyconsumer, with 300,000 barrels per day via a recently builtpipeline.
However, if Rosneft increased oil supplies to China, itwould reduce its Europe-bound flows because Russia, the world'stop crude producer, is pumping at full capacity of over 10million barrels per day.
Rosneft and Russia's oil pipeline monopoly Transneft had previously borrowed from Beijing to facilitatethe acquisition of the assets of nationalised oil producer Yukosand construction of the pipeline to China.
Rosneft has already raised a significant amount of borrowingto finance its $55 billion acquisition of TNK-BP, a50-50 joint venture between BP and the AAR consortium ofSoviet-born tycoons.