ST. PETERSBURG, June 2. /TASS/. Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov does not rule out that energy giants Gazprom and Rosneft may be further privatized in near 7-10 years.

"Of course, they can," he said in an interview with the Ekho Moskvy (Echo of Moscow) radio station when asked whether the companies can be privatized within 7-10 years. "I consider it logical and important," he added.

According to Shuvalov, Russia is close to privatizing Sovcomflot, Russia’s shipping company. "We’ve been saying for so many years that it is necessary to sell Sovcomflot that now we’re already close to shares placement," he said.

Aeroflot privatization is "not economically viable" at the moment, he added.