02.11.2006
Norwegian government does not leave attempts to lobby participation of Norwegian companies in development of Shtockman deposit
Having refused from cooperation with the foreign companies within the framework of development of Shtockman deposit, JSC "Gazprom" has compelled former partners to cut down other projects in Russia. On Tuesday project manager of Hydro Aluminium company, Dmitry Zubov has declared that Hydro has decided to refuse from plans of construction of an aluminium factory in Murmansk oblast’. In the Norwegian office of corporation, application of the manager was called "informal". The decision of the Norwegian company is connected to refusal of "Gazprom" company from attraction of foreign partners for development of Shtockman gas deposit. Hydro Aluminium AS project manager Dmitry Zubov says that Norwegian concern expected for participation in development of Shtockman deposit «However after the head of "Gazprom" Alexey Miller has declared that western companies including Hydro, will not participate in this project, it became uninteresting for us to build a factory there, as soon as we planned to consume gas from this project», - top-manager of Hydro Aluminium sums up.

Official representative of Hydro company Thomas Knuttsen calls Mr. Zubov’s declaration "informal". «We do not refuse from the project. But construction of the factory is possible only if it will be supplied with gas from the Barents sea», - press-secretary of Hydro said. «Every day I read the news about prospects for development of Shtockman deposit in the Barents sea. But fundamental decisions on this question are not yet made », - representative of the Norwegian company complains.

The investment program of Norwegians was discussed on negotiations of the Chairman of the Government of Russia Michael Fradkov and the Prime Minister of Norway Jens Stoltenberg. The Norwegian concern planned to construct a factory with capacity of 265 thousand tons of initial aluminium in Murmansk oblast’. «We search for various options, including Russia, and discussed them with the potential partners. We are investigating various projects for implementation upon completion of construction in Qatar», - Thomas Knuttsen said earlier. By 2009 the concern is going to construct a factory with annual capacity of 570 thousand tons of initial aluminium in Qatar together with state company Qatar Petroleum. The governor of Murmansk oblast’ Jury Evdokimov has told, that Russian "SUAL-HOLDING" company is also examining a possibility of new aluminium factory construction in the south part of Kandalaksha region, near to already existing one.

"SUAL" did make any comments on the decision of colleagues from Hydro Aluminium, but have noted, that it «will not affect in any way on investment plans of the company».

Dmitry Zubov insists that the basic source of gas for the aluminium factory near Murmansk was supposed to be Shtockman deposit. «Our experts who were engaged in development of this project say, that refusal from attraction of our company for development of Shtockman deposit is the reason for cut off plans of construction of aluminium factory», - top-manager has declared. The Norwegian government does not leave attempts to lobby participation of the companies in development of Shtockman. On Tuesday Jens Stoltenberg was talking about involvement of Statoil and Hydro in implementation of the project. «The Norwegian government supported companies Statoil and Hydro in their efforts to become partners of "Gazprom" by development of large Shtockman deposit as they have a wide experience on development of large sea gas deposits in the Arctic region and in the Barents sea », - Mr. Stoltenberg has emphasized.



Ajankohtaisiin »