Governor: No reason to suspend Novatek’s construction because of virus

MURMANSK, Apr 15 (PRIME) -- There is no reason to suspend construction of large facilities of Russian independent gas producer Novatek in the Murmansk Region’s locality of Belokamenka because of the coronavirus there, Governor Andrei Chibis told reporters on Wednesday.

Previously, 206 workers of the company’s contractor Velesstroy were tested positive for the COVID-19.

“The center of the disease was discovered at one facility, we are starting mass tests there. There is no reason to stop the whole process. Belokamenka is closed completely, 4,400 people are staying in dispersed housings within the quarantine zone. There are people who have confirmed or preliminary diagnoses, they are in special conditions, they are undergoing therapy. Everyone else is working, getting their wages, and living their lives to the full. There is no reason to stop construction,” Chibis said.

Novatek is building a center for construction of large-capacity sea structures in Belokamenka. The center will construct elements of structures that the company will use later to build a floating gas liquefaction plant for the liquefied natural gas (LNG) project Arctic LNG-2.

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