UK gives oligarch Fridman seven days to argue against forced North Sea asset sale

LONDON (Reuters) - The British government said on Wednesday that Russian oligarch Mikhail Fridman had seven days to convince it that it should not force him to sell newly acquired oil and gas assets in the North Sea.

German utility RWE (RWEG.DE) on Monday finalised the sale of its oil and gas production business DEA UK (RWEDE.UL) to Fridman's investment vehicle LetterOne, ending months of uncertainty over whether the 5.1 billion euro (3.7 billion pounds) deal would go ahead.

But the British government has said that it is concerned that production at the fields could be halted if the West imposes more sanctions on Russia over Ukraine, and it therefore wants them sold to a third party.

Ed Davey, Britain's energy minister, wrote to Fridman's firm on Wednesday.

"Ed Davey has given them seven days to explain why the Secretary of State should not now proceed to issue Notices under the Licences to require further changes of control," the department of energy said in a statement.

"Protecting these assets is the Secretary of State’s priority."

(Reporting by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Jane Merriman)