Gazprom doesn't need loans for investments-paper

MILAN, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Russian gas giant Gazprom (GAZP.MM) has enough funds to complete this year's investments without resorting to loans, its deputy chairman Alexander Medvedev told Il Messaggero newspaper in an interview.

"We are not worried about our financial position ... it is not a problem for Gazprom to ask for a loan," Medvedev said in the interview published on Sunday.

"But if necessary, we have sufficient funds to finance our projects without a loan," he added.

Gazprom will make over 23 billion euros ($28.95 billion) of investments this year and plans 821.66 billion roubles ($30.46 billion) in 2009.

Medvedev said Gazprom expected "record profits in 2008 despite the financial crisis".

He said gas prices would fall, however, in line with oil on which many contracts are based.

"Certainly (the gas price will fall). In long-term contracts ... the price of gas is linked to a basket of petroleum products," he said.

He added that after its deal with Italian utility A2A (A2.MI) to sell gas on the domestic market, it was in contact with other utilities for similar agreements.

Gazprom agreed a joint venture with A2A earlier this month which allows it to supply 900 million cubic metres of gas a year and take part directly in gas sales in Italy.

But its talks with Sinergie Italiane, which includes Italian utilities Enia (EN.MI) and Ascopiave (ASCI.MI), have broken down. (Reporting by Jo Winterbottom; editing by Sue Thomas)