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MOSCOW, April 11 (Reuters) - Russia's government isconsidering selling a 19 percent stake in state-controlled oilmajor Rosneft this year as part of plans to speed upprivatisation, Economy Minister Andrei Belousov said.
Russia's plan to sell stakes in large firms and banks hasslipped behind schedule, but officials are showing greaterurgency to complete asset sales as a slowing economy dents taxrevenues.
"I raised the issue during the government meeting that weneed to speed up the process of large-scale privatisation,"Belousov told reporters after a cabinet meeting in Moscow.
The government has long been studying the possibility ofselling a stake in Rosneft, whose market value is $77.5 billion.
The 19 percent it would look to sell comes on top of thestake already acquired by British oil major BP, Belousovsaid.
BP, which already had a small stake in Rosneft, endedup with 19.75 percent earlier this year after Rosneft's $55billion acquisition of Anglo-Russian crude producer TNK-BP.
As part of the TNK-BP deal, BP received $17 billion cash anda 12.84 percent stake in Rosneft. BP then bought 5.66 percent ofRosneft from state energy holding company Rosneftegaz.
"It's a strategic decision, on Rosneft," Belousov said."There is already 5.66 percent (sold), we are talking about anadditional package."
According to the government's mid-term privatisationstrategy, the state energy holding company should start cuttingits 69.5 percent stake in Rosneft this year, with a completesale by 2016.
Rosneft's powerful chief executive, former deputy premierIgor Sechin, has lobbied against a sale. He also chairsRosneftegaz, enabling him to influence the government's approachto managing its assets.
Rosneft's shares fell 2 percent to 220.80 roubles, theirlowest since the TNK-BP deal was announced in October.
Other privatisations planned this year are Aeroflot, Rostelecom, Sheremetyevo airport and UnitedGrain Company, Belousov said. (Reporting by Darya Korsunskaya; Writing by Vladimir Soldatkinand Megan Davies; Editing by Douglas Busvine and HelenMassy-Beresford)
