(Reuters) – Chinese companies’ involvement in Russian liquefied natural gas projects is being discussed by Russian and Chinese delegations at talks in Moscow, the Interfax news agency cited Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev as saying on Thursday.
When asked about the possibility of Chinese companies entering LNG projects in Ust-Luga or other locations in Russia, Tsivilev said that the topic was “being discussed at the moment,” but did not provide further details.
The state-owned China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) and Silk Road Fund hold stakes in Russia’s Yamal LNG project, while CNPC and China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) are involved in the Arctic LNG 2 project.
Russia has repeatedly welcomed the prospect of Chinese companies participating in the construction of an LNG plant and a gas chemical complex in Ust-Luga.
Russia and China will sign a large number of documents later on Thursday, including an updated investment agreement, Russian President Vladimir Putin told Chinese President Xi Jinping at a meeting in Moscow.
Xi is in the Russian capital this week for commemorations to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union and its allies over Nazi Germany in World War Two.
(This story has been corrected to say ‘Chinese companies,’ not ‘Russian companies,’ in paragraph 2)
(Reporting by Maxim Rodionov; Editing by Alexander Marrow and David Evans)
