NOVATEK can make an investment decision on Yamal LNG plant in 3-4 months, head and joint owner of the company Leonid Mikhelson said during a conference call.

According to his words, in three or four months’ time the company is planning to sign contracts for long-lead items supply. The results of the tenders have already been summed up. The investment decision will be made at the same time. “The investment decision will be formally made <...> however, it is not going to influence project implementation and financing”, - Mr. Mikhelson said.

NOVATEK’s head also claimed that negotiations with probable gas liquefaction modules manufacturers are under way. Moreover, 14-16 ice-class tankers will be needed during the project, and NOVATEK has already got reasonable offers from potential shipyards.

Speaking about the amount of new partners, Mikhelson said that excluding potential shareholders (NOVATEK and Total), there could be two more.

NOVATEK is sure in successful project implementation, - Mr. Mikhelson reported, reminding that the commissioning deadline has been approved – the end of 2016. The shareholders are financing the project, everything is according to the plan”. There has been invested $1.5 bln up to the present.

NOVATEK’s technical partner in this project is French Total owning 20%. Yamal LNG is implementing the project on LNG plant construction with the capacity of 16.5 mln tons annually on the basis of Uzhno-Tambeyskoye field. The project stipulates port construction in the settlement of Sabetta, building of a tanker ice-resistant fleet. The first tanker from the port is planned for departure in 2016. The investments are estimated to be 20 bln EUR.

Source: www.oilcapital.ru