Russian gas producer Novatek has said state shipowner Sovcomflot (SCF Group) has signed a firm contract for the first LNG carrier for its Arctic LNG 2 project.

A deal had been expected at the Far East Zvezda shipyard since January.

A representative of the company told the Kommersant daily: "Sovcomflot and the Zvezda shipbuilding complex signed an agreement on the construction of the first tanker for Novatek's Arctic LNG 2 project on 5 April."