LUKOIL asks state for $1.8 bln to refinance debt

MOSCOW Nov 6 (Reuters) - Russia's second-largest oil company LUKOIL (LKOH.MM) has asked state-owned bank VEB for a $1.8 billion loan to refinance its foreign debt, LUKOIL President Vagit Alekperov said on Thursday.

"We are holding talks. The 7 percent interest rate offered by VEB on the loan is too high," Alekperov told reporters. (Reporting by Denis Dyomkin, writing by Tanya Mosolova, editing by Gleb Bryanski)