India’s Oil and Natural Gas Corp will pay into Russia’s Sakhalin-1 oil and gas field abandonment fund in roubles, using Indian companies’ frozen dividends to retain its 20% stake in the project, three sources familiar with the matter said.

ONGC Videsh Ltd, the overseas investment arm of India’s top explorer ONGC, and other state-run Indian companies have not been able to repatriate about $800 million in dividends from stakes in Russian energy assets due to sanctions, the industry sources said.

Ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to New Delhi this week, the Indian companies agreed to give ONGC Videsh a loan from those stuck dividends so it can make a contribution to the abandonment fund, the sources added.

The Indian companies did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request

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