OAO Gazprom, Russia’s largest company, has the strength to weather the country’s economic crisis, according to its chief financial officer. The state-run gas exporter cut its debt by 10 percent last year, has a cash pile of about $20 billion and is benefiting from the ruble’s declines, Gazprom’s Andrey Kruglov said. The company’s board will review its 840 billion ruble ($13 billion) budget for this year later this month and Gazprom plans “additional stress tests” using oil at $40 and $50 a barrel, Kruglov said in an e-mailed response to questions. The company sees no need to ask for state aid, he said. Russia economy has been whacked by the collapse in oil and the plunge in the ruble, yet export-focused companies like Gazprom are seeing profits supported because they earn revenue in dollars while paying most costs in local currency. That’s helping to offset oil’s drop, […]