The renewed agreement was signed at the St Petersburg Economic forum by Rosneft chairman Igor Sechin and GE chief executive Jeff Immelt.

GE also announced plans for a distinct agreement that will have it supply 77-megawatt turbines to power a Rosneft production project at Siberia's Vankor oil field. The equipment will be built at a Rybinsk manufacturing facility.

The two companies will also launch a joint research and development centre in Russia.

GE