MOSCOW, June 26 (RIA Novosti) - Total and Shell have
made it onto the shortlist of participants in the Yamal
liquefied gas project in northwest Siberia, a Gazprom deputy
CEO said on Friday.
The Russian energy giant chose the Yamal Peninsula as a
region of strategic interest in January 2002. The development
of the Yamal fields, according to estimates, could produce
annually up to 310-360 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural
gas by 2030.
"We have agreed to have Total and Shell shortlisted for
the Yamal LNG [project]," Alexander Medvedev said, adding that
Japan's Mitsui and Mitsubishi were expected to obtain minority
stakes in the project.
The two Japanese companies hold 12.5% and 10%,
respectively, in the Sakhalin II oil and gas project being
developed by Gazprom in the Russian Far East. Royal Dutch Shell
controls a 27.5% stake.
The Gazprom official said if an investment decision is
taken, the LNG plant would process resources from the
Tambeiskaya group of fields, including the South Tambeiskoye
field owned by Novatek, Russia's largest independent gas
producer.
"We have agreed to hold talks with Novatek to consider
their proposals on developing the field, and we will work
together," Medvedev said. Gazprom controls about 20% in Novatek.
Gazprom, which saw a 57% plunge year-on-year in gas
exports to Europe in January-April, said earlier in June it was
set to "increase the pace of producing and supplying liquefied
natural gas."
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