The largest Russian private gas producer in Russia, Novatek, has become interested in acquiring assets in Africa and the countries of the Asia-Pacific region. According to RIA Novosti , this was stated by the head of the company Leonid Mikhelson .

According to him, the company is primarily interested in projects that do not require large investments at the initial stage. First of all, these are assets at the “early stage” - at the stage of geological exploration of deposits. Mikhelson noted that the company is not currently carrying out “project work,” but is “monitoring the market, opportunities, and tenders.”

Currently, Novatek already owns a 50 percent share in the concession agreement for the exploration and development of hydrocarbons on the El Arish offshore block in Egypt. The site is located on the Mediterranean shelf and adjacent to the northern coast of the Sinai Peninsula. Earlier, Novatek stated that it had suspended work at this site due to geological data and the unstable political situation in the country.

Mikhelson also said that Novatek is not negotiating the purchase of Alrosa's gas assets. According to him, “the vision of the value of these assets is different between Novatek and the owner.” Previously, business media named the largest private gas producer among the contenders for non-core companies, Alrosa.

The diamond producer owns two gas structures that operate in Yamal. Alrosa has been negotiating their sale for about a year. In mid-June, business publications reported that the diamond producer's consultant, VTB Bank, was proposing to exchange these assets for Lukoil's diamond deposits. Co-owner of the latter, Vagit Alekperov , said that the company is ready to consider any gas assets.

Novatek, the second largest gas production company in Russia, was founded in 1994. The main shareholders of the manufacturer are the Chairman of the Board of Novatek Leonid Mikhelson and the co-owner of the Gunvor trader Gennady Timchenko - together they control about 48 percent of the shares. France's Total owns 15 percent of Novatek's shares, and Gazprom owns about another 10 percent.

Currently, several Russian companies are producing gas in Asia and Africa. Thus, TNK-BP has gas and oil assets in Vietnam. In addition, Zarubezhneft operates in this country. Gazprom intends to produce gas in Bangladesh and Vietnam.

Novatek decided to produce gas in Asia and Africa