RIA Novosti quoted the Natural Resources Ministry said Russian interagency state commission has admitted only two Russian companies, Bashneft and Surgutneftegas to an auction to sell the strategic Trebs, Titov oil deposits in northern Russia.

Rivals LUKoil, Gazprom Neft, TNK-BP and India ONGC have been excluded from the bidding.

Kommersant newspaper reported on Monday that only Bashneft bid was fully compliant with the terms of the tender, and all the others including Surgutneftegas' bid were not fully compliant with the tender parameters.

(Sourced from RIA Novosti)