(Reuters) - Russia's third-largest oil producer TNK-BP International (TNBP.MM) said on Friday its second quarter net profit slumped to $808 million from $2.2 billion a year ago on the back of lower crude prices and higher taxes. The company, half-owned by BP (BP.L), said Russian Urals crude oil prices declined 7 percent during the period, while it had to pay a higher export tax, an extra $14 per barrel, due to a time lag in taxation. TNK-BP's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) dropped to $2.25 billion from $3.43 billion in the year-earlier period. Second quarter EBITDA was also hampered by the effects of foreign exchange fluctuations on mineral tax payments, the company said. TNK-BP's revenue for the period declined to $14.26 billion from $15.38 billion a year ago. The company said it increased capital expenditures by 8 percent to $2.4 billion from the year-earlier period. Oil major BP (BP.L) is in the process of talking to potential buyers interested in its share of the TNK-BP venture. BP formed the 50:50 joint venture with AAR, a consortium representing several Russian tycoons, nearly a decade ago to tap into the country's vast energy reserves. The group is estimated to be worth as much as $60 billion.

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