A Russian cabotage exemption decree has placed a question mark over Novatek's order for 15 LNG carriers at the domestic Zvezda Shipyard.
The producer will be able to export Yamal LNG through the Northern Sea Route on foreign ships, according to a decree signed by prime minister Dmitry Medvedev this week, the Vedomosti daily report.
A total of 28 vessels are covered for the Sabetta port in the Yamal peninsula up to 2043, all of which have been or will have been built by foreign shipyards by that point.
The move is being seen as a potential blow for Rosneft's new Zvezda yard.
Novatek had reserved slots for up to 15 LNG carriers at the plant for its Arctic LNG 2 project.
But unnamed sources cited in the report claimed Novatek has withdrawn from this agreement due to the 20% higher cost of building in Russia.
