Russia's new Zvezda Shipyard is in line for big subsidies to help it build new LNG carriers, a minister has confirmed.

Industry and trade minister Denis Manturov told reporters that the yard will bank about RUB 50bn ($784m) to construct up to 15 vessels for Novatek's Arctic LNG 2 project.

The cash is designed to offset the higher price of constructing the units in Russia rather than in South Korea or China.