FACTBOX-French investments in Russia

Feb 28 (Reuters) - Russia's antimonopoly watchdog has cleared a deal by French carmaker Renault (RENA.PA) to buy 25 percent of Russia's biggest auto maker AvtoVAZ (AVAZ.MM).

The deal, estimated to be worth $1 billion, will be signed on Feb. 29 in Moscow.

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[ID:nL26188536] Here are other French companies with investment interests in Russia:

TOTAL (TOTF.PA)

Last year Russian gas export monopoly Gazprom (GAZP.MM) picked French energy major Total to become its partner in the giant Shtokman gas field, giving it a 25 percent stake in the first-phase development company.

Gazprom has majority control of 51 percent. Norway's StatoilHydro (STL.OL) owns the remaining 24 percent. Shtokman's reserves are estimated at 3.8 trillion cubic metres (tcm), making it one of the world's biggest gas fields. The first phase is estimated to contain a quarter of the field's reserves.

Total also operates the Kharyaga oil field project, which is one of Russia's three production-sharing agreements (PSA). At its peak, Kharyaga should produce 56,000 barrels per day.

GAZ DE FRANCE GAZ.PA

Gazprom supplies around a quarter of France's gas needs under long-term contracts with Gaz de France GAZ.PA. Gazprom sees Gaz de France as an important partner to swap Russian pipeline gas in Europe for liquefied natural gas (LNG).

GdF buys 12 billion cubic metres of gas a year from Gazprom.

GdF has said it is planning to invest in Russia's electricity sector. It had been planning to bid for power generator TGK-10, but industry sources said on Thursday it pulled out of the race.

SOCIETE GENERALE (SOGN.PA)

French bank Societe Generale will increase its 30 percent stake in one of Russia's 10 largest banks, Rosbank (ROSB.MM), to 57.8 percent in the second half of this year.