The Prince visited the headquarters of the Sakhalin Energy consortium, where the British-Dutch corporation holds a controlling stake, and opened its second office in the center of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.
The project's second stage includes construction of Russia's first liquefied gas plant, a trunk oil and gas pipeline from the north to the south of the island and transport infrastructure.
Direct foreign investment in the project amounts to $10 billion. Constructions of the pipeline, LNG plant and oil and gas terminals have already begun.
Prince Andrew was told that the LNG plant in the Prigorodnoye settlement in southern Sakhalin will incorporate the latest development in gas liquefying worked out by the corporation's scientific and research institutes.
The Prince, who is the British government's special representative for international trade and investments, was told about the environmental measures during oil and gas extraction and transportation.
On Wednesday the Prince also visited other British companies engaged in contract work in Sakhalin oil and gas projects. Thus, he met management of British Petroleum Sakhalin and of European Landmine Solutions, engaged in clearing of the route for the pipeline of unexploded shells left since World War II (the south of Sakhalin, which at that time belonged to Japan, saw fierce battles between Soviet and Japanese troops). This company is closely cooperating with Russian contractors. Last year alone it found and destroyed 292 shells along the future pipeline route.
The first day of the Prince's visit ended with a reception given by the region's governor Ivan Malakhov at the Santa Resort Hotel, which for three days will provide the high guest with accommodation.
