Russia's giant Yamal LNG project has secured all the remaining external financing it needs in a $12bn-plus loan deal with China.

The funding avoids any problems with western sanctions against Russia, Reuters reported.

The project, led by gas producer Novatek, had been in talks with European and Chinese lenders for months.

Western sanctions had been imposed against Novatek and its major shareholder Gennady Timchenko, a friend of Russian president Vladimir Putin, over Russia's role in the Ukraine crisis.

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