An interdepartmental commission under Russia's Economic Development Ministry has backed plans to build two icebreakers for the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Region, the ministry reported on its website.

The project stipulates the construction of two Class 8 icebreakers on the shipyards of the United Shipbuilding Corporation. The vessels will be used all year round off an Arctic oil terminal at Cape Kamenny on the Yamal Peninsula.

According to the ministry, the project's estimated cost is 17.43 billion rubles. Of this sum, 13.94 billion are planned to come from loans.