Russian state-owned gas monopoly Gazprom is reportedly seeking a $10bn (€7.7bn) loan from its relationship banks to secure half its controlling stake in Sakhalin-2, the world's largest combined oil and natural gas development.

Gazprom, which last month wrestled control of the project from rival Royal Dutch Shell after a sustained campaign against the Anglo-Dutch company, is also expected to use the loan to finance the purchase of assets from bankrupt Russian oil group, Yukos.