58
RUSSIA - FRANCE
©DR
T
otal has been present in Russia
formore than 25 years. Howhave
its activities developed in the
country, especially upstream?
Russia, where the Group has been
present for a quarter of a century, is
still a key country for Total. It is one of
the leading producing countries for
the Group, especially for gas. We
have a long term development strate-
gy there with our Russian partners.
Concerning our upstream activities,
we have chosen a strategic partner,
Novatek, in which we have a 18.9 %
shareholding. This company is very
dynamic, and we are going to contri-
bute to continuing its development
as a shareholder and also as a direct
partner for certain projects. Total
is especially a partner of the
Termokarstovoye gas project, which
was launched in 2009, as well as
Yamal LNG, the huge liquefied natu-
ral gas project in the far north of
Russia, which was inaugurated at
the end of 2017. I would also like to
talk about the Khariaga project,
which was our first development in
Russia and which enabled us to be
recognized among the key players of
the sector in the country. Total
was its operator for sixteen years
before passing on these functions
to Zarubezhneft in 2016. We are still
a partner of Khariaga, whose safety
and production performances
remain first class.
Total was a pioneer of the LNG indus-
try and took part in the Yamal LNG
project. What are the Group’s goals
for the largest gas liquefaction
project in the world?
The development of liquefied natural
gas (LNG) is a key factor in Total’s
strategy, strengthening its presence
in most of the major production areas
as well as in the main markets. With
Yamal LNG, we opened a new LNG
production area that is well located
for the main markets in Europe and
Asia. Yamal LNG is also among the
most competitive LNG projects in the
world. Gas production costs are very
low there, which offsets the extra
logistical costs. The very harsh cli-
mate in winter is also an advantage,
because it enables a 10 % increase
in the efficiency of the liquefaction
process.
Yamal LNG is the northernmost plant
in the world, built up and operated
in Arctic conditions. It is a real
industrial success and a successful
example of our partnerships with our
Russian and Chinese partners. To
develop the vast gas resources of the
South Tambey field, the teams of
Yamal LNG, with the support of Total
and the other shareholders, had to
develop a way of transporting LNG by
ship by the Northern Sea Route. To
do this, we had to invent a new class
of LPG carriers with icebreaking
abilities.
What is the role of your development
in Russia in the Group’s global
development strategy?
Total has been operating in Russia since 1991 and has become a major player in the
region, which has a very high potential of gas resources. The French oil company is
continuing to invest in Russia and the development of liquefied natural gas is one
of the key factors of its strategy.
Arnaud LE FOLL,
General Director & Country Chair, Total EP Russia
©DR
‘We are ready to contemplate
new investments in Russia’
