Putin approves LNG exports for Gazprom rivals

摘要

Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, has formally approved a new law to liberalise Russia's LNG market. The legislation, which was passed by both houses of parliament, will allow Novatek and Rosneft to enter the international LNG market, however Gazprom's monopoly over pipeline gas exports will remain in place and LNG exports to countries already supplied with Russian pipeline gas are forbidden. Russia has six new liquefaction projects on the stocks: Novatek, CNPC and Total's Yamal LNG project (which took FID this month), in February Gazprom announced that it had taken an investment decision (although of what nature is unclear) on its Vladivostok LNG project.