WRAPUP 1-Russia to cut oil exports, tycoon seeks OPEC entry

* LUKOIL VP says Russia should join OPEC and oil output cuts * Russian firms rush to cut November exports due high duties * Finance Ministry says 2009 budget safe if oil at $60 * Oil companies trim capital spending, production outlook

By Dmitry Zhdannikov and Vladimir Soldatkin

MOSCOW, Oct 29 (Reuters) - A Russian oil billionaire urged Moscow to join OPEC's output cuts just as the country's big oil companies reduced their November export plan by 10 percent, blaming the government for keeping export duty extra high.

Leonid Fedun, vice-president and shareholder in Russia's No. 2 oil firm and largest private producer, LUKOIL (LKOH.MM), told an investment conference on Wednesday Russia should join OPEC and could cut output and exports by 300,000-400,000 barrels per day.

"(Joining OPEC) will be only good for Russia," he said.

"We are seeing that Russia and OPEC are beginning to cooperate. I believe the future of the Russian industry and price stability hinges on close cooperation with OPEC, to the extent of Russia joining OPEC," Fedun said.

Fedun's comments were a surprise after Russian officials and even Fedun's boss, LUKOIL Chief Executive Vagit Alekperov, said earlier this month that Russia should keep policies independent from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

Russia's growing ties with OPEC have unnerved global consumers already worried by talks between Russia, Iran and Qatar to create an OPEC-style gas group.

Fedun spoke one week after OPEC Secretary General Abdullah al-Badri met Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in the first ever talks between OPEC and the head of the Russian state.

Badri said he would not ask Russia to cut production and senior Russian energy officials said the country could become a swing producer in the long-term.

Unlike Middle Eastern producers, Russia cannot shut down oil wells in Siberia because any production halt requires an expensive repair operation.

But the Russian officials revived a decade-old idea of setting up an oil reserve. This would allow Russia to accumulate oil during periods of low prices and export more when prices are high.

Valery Nesterov, an oil analyst at Troika Dialog brokerage, said he doubted Fedun's words meant Russia's government was seriously considering joining OPEC.

"Russia and OPEC will have to cooperate in the current environment but it does not require massive efforts on behalf of Russia, because production is falling anyway," he said.

Russian oil production is heading for its first annual decline in a decade, as it is down around 1 percent since the beginning of this year.