Gazprom Neft reports lower net profit

The net profit of Gazprom Neft slid 16.7 percent to RUR62.829bn (approx. USD2.42bn) in 2006 compared to 2005, RBC reports. The company's net profit stepped down 14.2 percent to RUR15.162bn (approx. USD583m) in the fourth quarter of 2006 compared to Q3 2006, Gazprom Neft's official documents state. The company's management attributes this decrease in the net profit to lower sales of oil and refined oil products.