The demand came from Gazprom's deputy executive chairman Alexander Ananenkov at a governmental meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov, at the end of last week in Moscow.
Ananenkov has told Fradkov that the gas giant is planning to start exploration work on the blocks if it gets the licences "in the first quarter of 2008".
According to Russian legislation, the licences must be awarded only by tender to the highest bidder, though Gazprom can request an exception from the rule, with the governmental issuing the licence by a direct order.
Ananenkov
