10-01-02 The aggregate investment attractiveness rating of the Russian oil and gas industry went up 3.5 % last year. LUKoil with its 36.73 % (a 13.4 % rise from the beginning of the year), Yukos with 35.51 % (up 17.6 %) and Surgutneftegaz with 35.02 % (up 5.8 %) were in the lead. Gazprom's rating was down from 25.87 % to 22.4 % and that of TNK from 27.53 % to 26.8 %, meanwhile that of Sibneft soared from 8.7 % to 30.7 %.

Analysts explain the latter growth by the fact that Sibneft was the first company to have minority shareholders represented on the board of directors and pursue a generous dividend policy. Furthermore, together with Yukos, Sibneft led in oil extraction growth rates.