OREANDA-NEWS The Chairman of the Board of NOVATEK Leonid Mikhelson and General Director of Rosatom Alexey Likhachev on the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) signed an agreement to establish a joint venture for the construction of icebreakers, liquefied natural gas (LNG). This is stated in the message of NOVATEK.

The plans of the two companies is in creating a fleet of icebreakers for LNG. The goal is to provide icebreaking wiring of NOVATEK's Arctic LNG projects in the waters of the Northern sea. In addition, the joint venture will have to build ships for the port fleet.

"We already have a successful experience of working with Rosatom to ensure the icebreaking wiring of gas carriers of our Yamal LNG project," Michelson said. "The signing of this agreement will contribute to the development of the icebreaker fleet and the growth of cargo traffic along the Northern sea route, which is important for our company and for the Russian economy as a whole."

In an interview with the journalists the pre-administration NOVATEK added that the company announced a tender for the construction of ships for LNG projects with the condition of placing an order at the far Eastern shipyard Zvezda, which is developed by Rosneft, Rosneftegaz and Gazprombank. With the" Zvezda", said Michelson, has already signed a schedule of orders.

"Shipyard "Star" had to give a technical and economic proposal before July 1, but with a small lag they gave in mid-August. In mid-July, we gave them our technical and economic proposal and now we will consider, bring our vision closer," he explained.

Earlier, Rosatom and NOVATEK have already stated apart from each other about their intentions to build icebreakers for LNG. Since 2017, the initiative to build at least four such icebreakers has been discussed in the subordinate Rosatom Atomflot. Their power, according to different sources, will be 45 megawatt. The company plans to complete the project for the class of these vessels in September, and the first decision on the order, according to plans, should be made in 2019.

Deputy General Director of "Rosatom" Vyacheslav Ruksha has indicated that the company is discussing prospects for cooperation on the construction of icebreakers with NOVATEK. To build icebreakers will be "Atomflot" for funding under a service contract with the company. The cost of the project sources estimated at €250 million " plus or minus 10%".