Ministry expects Novatek to reserve Zvezda’s capacities in 2022

MOSCOW, Jan 24 (PRIME) -- The Industry and Trade Ministry expects Russia’s Far Eastern shipbuilding complex Zvezda and independent gas producer Novatek to sign an agreement on booking of ship construction capacities in 2022, the ministry said in a statement on Friday quoting Minister Denis Manturov.

The government earlier granted Novatek the right to order 10 additional liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers at foreign shipyards that are to be finished in 2023–2024 on assumption that Zvezda will be loaded with orders for 15 LNG carriers for Novatek’s Arctic LNG-2 at the time, Manturov said as quoted by the ministry.

“Taking into account the interest of the Russian company in the global LNG market and the strategic importance of the project in strengthening of Russia’s positions in the energy sector, it would be wrong to deprive the company from ensuring transportation of LNG in the amounts that it planned to sell,” Manturov said.

“Novatek does not reject further construction of LNG carriers at the Russian shipyard, and its plans include construction of additional LNG carriers at Zvezda in 2026–2030. We expect a corresponding agreement on booking of capacities of the shipbuilding complex to be signed in 2022,” he said, as quoted by the ministry.

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