The decree appeared to represent a renewed drive to privatize Russian energy assets, but the president later muddied the waters by stating that Rosneftegaz itself could take part in auctions of state-controlled energy and power companies to prevent them being sold to the private sector on the cheap.
“(These companies) are undervalued and we would not like them to be privatized for peanuts and then to be resold right away for serious money,” Mr. Putin said.