Russia's Sistema eyes oil firm Russneft - paper

MOSCOW, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Russian oil-to-telecoms group Sistema (SSAq.L) is in talks to acquire mid-sized oil company Russneft from tycoon Oleg Deripaska after having bought an oil and refining hub in the Urals this year, a newspaper reported.

Kommersant business daily said on Monday that Sistema Chairman Vladimir Yevtushenkov had discussed the possibility of purchasing Russneft several times, but that the potential deal was complicated by Russneft's debt of around $6.65 billion. Deripaska, majority owner of aluminium producer UC RUSAL, agreed to buy Russneft from businessman Mikhail Gutseriyev in 2007.

Gutseriyev fled Russia as police pursued him for tax debts and Deripaska has been waiting for over two years to get clearance from antitrust authorities to complete the purchase.

Sistema, whose main asset is Russia's top mobile operator, MTS (MBT.N), in March paid $2.5 billion for control of Bashneft and five other energy firms in which it already owned blocking stakes of up to 30 percent.

Bashneft needs additional crude to feed its refineries, and Sistema has said it was looking for upstream assets, without elaborating.

A spokesman for Deripaska declined to comment on the report.

A source close to the situation confirmed to Reuters that Sistema was interested in Russneft, which sources have previously said was also being targeted by Gazprom's (GAZP.MM) oil arm, Gazprom Neft (SIBN.MM).

Russneft produces around 300,000 barrels per day from fragmented fields spread all over Russia and its main refining asset is the 130,000-barrels-per-day Orsk refinery. (Reporting by Katya Golubkova, writing by Vladimir Soldatkin)