Saipem, the Italian-controlled oil and gas contractor, which is a key participant in a number of major European gas projects, among them the Nord Stream, Blue Stream and South Stream pipelines, this month sent a delegation to the Northwest Russian city of Severodvinsk to view Sevmash facilities.
It is expected that Saipem also eyes major orders in the Shtokman project in the Barents Sea. According to a press release from Sevmash, Saipem already has been chosen as the general contractor for the construction of floating Shtokman production ship. That information is however not confirmed by the Saipem’s website, nor by other available web information.
According to newspaper Korabelnaya Storona, Saipem now considers to place several construction orders in the Russian yard. A working group with representatives of both companies is to established to follow up the cooperation.
Saipem is a subsidiary of Italian energy company Eni, which owns about 40 percent of Saipem’s shares.
