His comment, published on a Kremlin website, appears to reverse a decision made in October that Russia alone would develop the Barents Sea gasfield.

The statement in October was a huge disappointment to Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Total, Statoil and NorskHydro, which had been vying for a share in the project. Talks are thought to have continued with NorskHydro and Total since the rebuff, but without great progress.

Viktor Khristenko, the Energy Minister, confirmed the about-turn, saying that foreign companies might now take part if they offered something extra.

Mr Putin was quoted as saying that foreign participation in Shtokman “could be looked at again in the event that interesting proposals are received from our international partners”. Gazprom put potential partners into competition for a share in the 3,700 billion cubic metre gasfield, asking each to offer a commercial asset in exchange. NorskHydro and Statoil are believed to have offered stakes in Ormen Lange and Snohvit, large gasfields in the Norwegian Sea.

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