"Gazprom will not be privatized, and the state will preserve control over a number of infrastructure companies," German Gref said, adding that a policy of strategic privatization would be maintained in other economic sectors.

In December 2005, the Russian government removed the "ring fence" around the energy giant that prevented foreigners from owning its common stock.

Gref said state companies should be made more efficient in view of their further privatization.

He also said he did not rule out that major state companies would continue to expand on the domestic market.

"I cannot guarantee that the state will make no big purchases on the domestic market," the minister said.

Gref said big companies wanted to expand their presence on the market, but that this desire was not always productive.