PRESS: Zvezda contracts seen as condition for Severno-Gydansky auction

MOSCOW, Mar 4 (PRIME) -- New contracts for Russia’s Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex may become a compulsory condition for holding an auction to develop the Severno-Gydansky field, which is to become the resource base for independent gas producer Novatek’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) project Arctic LNG-3, Kommersant business daily reported on Wednesday citing sources.

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry is ready to offer the field for an auction, as asked by Novatek CEO Leonid Mikhelson, but, according to the sources, the presidential administration has added new license requirements, namely, transportation of LNG by tankers produced by Zvezda.

Spokespersons for Novatek, oil company Rosneft and the ministry have not answered the daily’s questions.

Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex is being built in Russia’s Far East by a Rosneft-headed consortium.

End