'The China National Petroleum Company' is taking on a key role in the development of the major Arctic gas project as it commits itself to buy an annual 3 million tons of 'Yamal LNG'. From before, the company owns a 20 percent stake in the project.

The agreement was signed during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Shanghai this week. Signed was also an agreement between 'Novatek' and the China Development Bank, according to which the financial institution will facilitate project financing on ”the best possible conditions by the fourth quarter of 2014”, a press release from Novatek reads. The CDB will also coordinate relations with other Chinese financial institutions and do ”whatever it can” to generate the necessary project financing for the next 15 years.

With the investments in the 'Yamal LNG', Chinese interests are getting a firm foothold in the Russian Arctic.


Official source - http://barentsobserver.com/en/energy/