Gov't to allocate 1 bln rubles for R&D in LNG sphere, Russia targeting production of 80-120 mln tonnes/year by 2035 using own competencies
MOSCOW. Aug 17 (Interfax) - The government will allocate 1 billion rubles for compensation of expenses on research and development for creation of domestic LNG production technologies, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said announced during a government meeting. Energy Minister Nikolai Shulginov noted that Russia aims to produce 80-120 million tons/year of LNG by 2035 using its own competencies.
"It is important not only to look for new buyers [of LNG], but also to develop our own production of critical equipment. A list has been drawn up and includes 18 priority areas. The government will support design engineers, will allocate 1 billion rubles to compensate costs that arise during research and development work using modern technologies. These funds will make it possible to ensure the launch and partial financing this year of 4 projects for creation of LNG equipment for medium and large-tonnage production," Mishustin said.
"Developing our own capabilities in this area will help solve a number of problems, support this relatively new sector of the Russian energy industry, launch industrial sites, create jobs and continue to move toward the national development goals that the president has set," the prime minister said.
The "Breakthrough to LNG Markets federal program will ensure Russia's leadership in global liquefied natural gas markets, Energy Minister Nikolai Shulginov was quoted as saying in the Energy Ministry's official Telegram channel.
"Thanks to financing already approved, prototypes of various domestic LNG equipment will be manufactured by 2030, and dozens of scientific and technical works will be carried out annually. As a result, more than 500 high-tech jobs will be created across Russia, and the leading role in this process will come by way of 30 billion rubles of private investment. Thus, Russia will be able to develop its own competencies and serial technologies for medium- and large-scale liquefaction, which will help to achieve the goals of increasing LNG production in Russia to 80-120 million tons by 2035," Shulginov said.
According to the current version of the Energy Strategy through 2035, Russia expects to produce 80-140 million tonnes of LNG per year. By September, the Ministry of Energy should present a new version of the Energy Strategy, extending the planning horizon to 2050.