Novatek denies establishing shadow fleet for Arctic LNG 2; Yamal LNG vessels not being used

MOSCOW. Sept 10 (Interfax) - Novatek has issued a press release with a "Statement for Partners", in which the Russian gas producer has said that although it is one of the participants in Arctic LNG 2 LLC, its employees are not employed by the project.

"All of the Project's activities, including operational and commercial activities, are controlled solely by the management of Arctic LNG 2. [...] The suspicion made in the media, namely that the Company is involved in the establishment and management of a shadow fleet, as well as in loading products from the Arctic LNG 2 project, are untrue and do not stand up to facts," Novatek said in the statement.

OJSC Yamal LNG has also issued a statement for partners, in which the company has denied media reports that Yamal LNG-chartered gas carriers are being used to ship products from the Arctic LNG 2 project. [Novatek owns a controlling stake in OJSC Yamal LNG.]

"Publications have appeared recently in the media containing false information that OJSC Yamal LNG-chartered gas carriers are being used for shipping products from the Arctic LNG 2 project, among other matters. These statements are a gross error or a deliberate insinuation on the part of the media and the so-called 'experts' whom they employ," OJSC Yamal LNG said in the statement.

Novatek and Yamal LNG have emphasized that they will "preclude all attempts to publish and disseminate information that is not true and that is aimed at causing damage to the company, and will defend our interests in court."