Russian gas export monopoly Gazprom said that it would not be in accordance with Russia’s national interest to allow Novatek and Rosneft to export gas to Europe, Reuters reported citing RIA news agency.

“If we talk about our European [export] policy, about a single export channel, these are our national interests. So why should we create competition among ourselves,” Gazprom Deputy CEO, Valery Golubev, said.

This information came after Rosneft–Russia’s top oil producer– and Novatek –an independent Russian gas producer– asked the Energy Ministry to grant them access to gas exports to Europe via pipelines, industry sources and media reports said, according to Sputnik International.