-Russia does not possess the necessary technology for the development of the Shtokman gas condensate field in the Barents Sea, the governor said in a press conference devoted to the upcoming Murmansk Economic Forum on Monday. – That includes the laying of the underwater pipeline, which probably will be done by foreign contractors, Dmitriyenko added, RIA Novosti informs. The governor admitted that Russia today has “very limited experiences from laying of pipelines on such depths”.
At the same time, Mr. Dmitriyenko believes the Shtokman field will help stimulated regional business, as first of all small and medium-sized companies. –As far as I know, the Shtokman Development AG intend to buy services and not itself develop services, he said to the journalists.
As BarentsObserver has reported, Russian companies now increasingly fear that project operators Gazprom, Total and StatoilHydro will not grant contracts to Russian industry but rather prefer foreigner contractors. The Shtokman Development AG is likely to get the authorities’ blessing for a high level of use of foreign expertise and technology, and will not be committed to take 70 percent of equipment from Russian companies.
The statements from Governor Dmitriyenko come just about two weeks ahead of the Murmansk Economic Forum, an event which first of all will be devoted to the development of the Shtokman field.
