YUKOS has sold off one of its assets to Russneft to pay down its debts.
      
      By purchasing a 49% stake in the Slovak Transpetrol company, Russneft may now make use of the pipeline to Hungarian MOL. YUKOS intends to pay off debts to foreign banks and its shareholder Menatep Group.
      
      The deal worth $103m now has to be approved by Slovakia’s antitrust authorities and economics ministry. In the meantime, Russneft’s rival, North-Western Oil Group, plans to file a complaint.