MOSCOW, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Russia's Natural ResourcesMinistry supports the idea of giving Gazprom a taxbreak for an offshore oil and gas field in the Far East afterWestern sanctions over Ukraine hit its development prospects.
Gazprom considers the development of the Yuzhno-Kirinskoyefield as essential for the expansion of its Sakhalin-2 liquefiednatural gas (LNG) plant, Russia's sole LNG plant.
Alexei Miller, chief executive of Gazprom, the world's topgas producer, asked for tax breaks for the field near thePacific island of Sakhalin earlier this month.
"We support this request and think tax breaks could beprovided," ministry spokesman Nikolai Gudkov said on Tuesday.
He said the ministry's position that Gazprom could have adiscounted rate on mineral extraction tax (MET) for the fieldhad been sent to the Finance Ministry for consideration.
The proposal would also need to be approved by thegovernment and the president to come into effect.
Earlier this year, the United States restricted exports,re-exports and transfers of technology and equipment to theYuzhno-Kirinskoye field as a part of wider sanctions put onRussia over its role in the Ukraine crisis. (Reporting by Katya Golubkova; editing by David Clarke)
