OREANDA-NEWS. February 18, 2009. The solemn actions devoted to launching of the first Russian factory for production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) within the limits of realization of the Sakhalin II project, have taken place today on Sakhalin island (settlement Prigorodnoe).

The President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev, the high-ranking statesmen of the countries-partners on realization of the Sakhalin-2 project, including the Prime Minister of Japan Taro Aso, Duke of York, the Minister of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands Maria van der Hoeven, have taken part in the actions. The following heads of the companies-shareholders of Sakhalin Energy participated in the actions: The Head of the management committee of OAO Gazprom Alexey Miller, the Chief executive of Royal Dutch Shell Jeroen van der Veer, the President and the Chief executive of Mitsui Shoei Utsuda and the President and the Chief executive of Mitsubishi Corporation Yorihiko Kojima. Besides, the heads of the companies-buyers of the Sakhalin LNG and the international financial organizations took part in the actions.

“Today we started the production of LNG in Russia. It will give a powerful impulse for the development of the Russian Far East economy. Realization of the Sakhalin II project will allow to strengthen positions of Gazprom on the world energy market, will promote the development of trade and economic relations of Russia with the countries of APR, the diversification of sources of gas deliveries in this region and by that will raise its energy security”, – said the Chairman of the management committee of OAO Gazprom Alexey Miller.

”Sakhalin has now firmly established its position on the global energy map. We thank Sakhalin Energy shareholders, The Government of the Russian Federation and the Sakhalin Oblast authorities fortheir continuoussupport and cooperation in delivering the ambitious and challenging Sakhalin II project.

When the project is fully on stream, it will supply around 5% of the world’s LNG and make a significant contribution to strengthening global energy security”, – Sakhalin Energy’s Chief Executive Officer Ian Craig underlined.