MOSCOW, January 28. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia's oil company LUKOIL hopes to join Mexico's offshore projects in the Gulf of Mexico, the company's head Vagit Alekperov told reporters.

LUKOIL plans to open its office in Mexico City in February. The company has negotiated with the Mexican side for more than a year for its participation in the country's projects. The Mexican government in December last year lifted the ban on participation of foreign investors in national oil and gas projects.

The Russian company plans two stages of work in Mexico. At the first stage, LUKOIL will join projects for rehabilitation of fields already developed since the first half of last century. At the second stage, the company hopes to receive a participation share in the partnership with Mexico's Pemix for exploration and then development of fields in the Gulf of Mexico.

"We hope to agree on specific projects by the end of the year and expect the Mexican government to completely pass the legal basis for the implementation," Alekperov said.

"We hope to come with concrete projects in the autumn", he added.