The third stage of the Yamal LNG project is to be put into service before the end of this year, acting head of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area Dmitry Artyukhov said at a meeting with President Vladimir Putin. Thus, the project is one year ahead of schedule.

He described the economic situation in the YNAA, noting that it was making steady progress. "If we look at the main industrial indicators, the first half-year was very successful, with 12 percent growth. I mean, of course, our biggest things. We are pleased that our main companies are taking the initiative in joining many projects," he said.

He also mentioned Gazprom's plans to develop the Kharasaveysky and Bovanenkovsky fields.

"This company behaves in a very responsible manner. We have many cooperation programs related to urban development and the volunteer movement. We have excellent joint environmental projects," he added, commending the effort to clean up the Arctic.

He also focused on the Yamal LNG project. "One of the key projects, Yamal LNG, is ahead of schedule with its second stage put into service. The third stage will become operative before the end of this year, one year ahead of schedule. These are excellent results achieved by our oil and gas industry as a whole. We are pleased that this is taking place in Yamal and no one clearly has any doubt that all planned major programs, including Arctic LNG-2, will also be successfully implemented in the future," he said.