Rosneft seeks more support for Zvezda shipyard

Nikolai Podguzov, deputy minister of economic development, noted that Rosneft had asked for Russia’s deputy for RUB 89 billion (US$2.5 billion) from the National Welfare Fund – taking the state contribution from 40% to around 80% of the total construction cost.

Last year Rosneft, together with Gazprombank, took a 75% stake in the company. The remaining shares are owned by Russian shipbuilding monopoly United Shipbuilding Corporation.

Zvezda is expected to become one of the most modern shipyards in Russia. It is due to be commissioned in 2016, with Rosneft likely to be a main customer.

Denis Manturov, minister of industry and trade, has said that Rosneft will provide the shipyard’s first orders, which will range from supply vessels to small tankers. The yard will also specialise in producing drilling platforms, and fellow Russian energy companies Gazprom and Novatek are also expected to be customers.

Zvezda was also intended to build LNG carriers for the forthcoming Yamal LNG plant. Orders for around 16 carriers, capable of passing through ice of up to 2.1m thick, are expected for Yamal LNG. However, with delays to Zvezda’s construction, shipbuilding is increasingly likely to shift fully to DSME in South Korea, which was initially projected to share shipbuilding with the Russian yard.