In the second quarter and first half 2017, our total revenues increased by 1.1% and 6.3%, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods of 2016.

Qatar and Russia have long been rivals in global gas markets. Qatar's supplies came under the spotlight in the past month after Saudi Arabia cut economic and diplomatic ties, in a move ratcheting up a wider violent and diplomatic conflict in the Middle East.

Profit attributable to NOVATEK shareholders decreased by 38.7% to RR 71.0 billion (RR 23.54 per share), as compared to RR 115.9 billion (RR 38.40 per share) in the first quarter 2016. The amount of profit was significantly impacted by the foreign exchange effect (including at the joint ventures level), and its dynamics – by the effect of the disposals of interests in joint ventures. Net of these effects, our adjusted profit attributable to NOVATEK shareholders increased by 20.2% to RR 44.3 billion compared with the first quarter 2016.

Profit attributable to NOVATEK shareholders increased by more than three-fold to RR 257.8 billion (RR 85.41 per share), as compared to RR 74.4 billion (RR 24.63 per share) in 2015. The amount of profit and its dynamics were significantly impacted by the foreign exchange effect (including at the joint ventures level), as well as the effect of the disposals of interests in joint ventures.

The tanker is the first of a new class of icebreaking LNG carriers that will open an export route from Siberia to the Pacific — reducing Russia’s dependence on selling gas through pipelines to Europe.

Novatek is planning a new large-scale project known as Arctic LNG 2, which targets annual production of 12 million to 16 million tons of LNG, with operations aimed to start by 2025. Mikhelson expressed a desire to see Japan be a cooperative partner at every step of the plan, from gas production to liquefaction plant construction and management, all the way to sales. It was also made clear that should Japanese enterprises cooperate, the country could expect a portion of the output.

In the first half 2016, our profit amounted to RR 161.9 billion (RR 53.61 per share), representing an increase of 121.7% as compared to the first half 2015.

The Company’s Normalized EBITDA, including our respective share in the EBITDA of joint ventures, amounted to RR 62.1 billion, representing a 13.3% increase compared to the EBITDA for the first quarter 2015. Profit attributable to NOVATEK shareholders increased by 3.7 times to RR 115.9 billion, as compared to RR 31.1 billion in the first quarter 2015.

Russia's largest independent gas producer Novatek plans to raise further $12bn in external financing for the Yamal LNG project, said Novatek CEO Leonid Mikhelson.

OAO NOVATEK announced the closing of a transaction to sell a 9.9% equity stake in the Yamal LNG project (“Project”) to China’s Silk Road Fund (“SRF”) for a payment amounting to EUR 1,087 million.