Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính Meets with Russia’s Leading Oil and Gas Corporation
Within the framework of his official visit to the Russian Federation, on the morning of March 23, 2026, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính and a high-level Vietnamese delegation visited and held a working session with Novatek – a leading Russian and global corporation in the natural gas sector.
Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính, accompanied by a high-level Vietnamese delegation, visited and held a working session with Novatek Group. Pic: VGP/Nhật Bắc.
At the meeting, Mr. Leonid Viktorovich Mikhelson, Chairman of Novatek, introduced the company’s formation history and its development orientation in Vietnam.
Novatek was established in August 1994 and primarily operates in the exploration, production, processing, and commercialization of natural gas and liquid hydrocarbons. It is the second-largest natural gas producer in the Russian Federation (after Gazprom) and ranks as the seventh-largest publicly traded company globally by natural gas output. In the Forbes Global 2000 ranking in 2020, Novatek was listed as the world’s 316th largest public company.
Novatek has successfully implemented large-scale LNG (liquefied natural gas) projects and has developed proprietary liquefaction technologies. The company is currently highly interested in Vietnam’s LNG sector, including participation in the Ca Na project in cooperation with partners such as Zarubezhneft, and is actively exploring Vietnam’s rapidly growing gas market.
Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính highly appreciated Novatek’s achievements and noted that the company’s operations align with Vietnam’s major strategic orientations, including the goal of achieving economic growth of over 10%, reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, and implementing key transitions—particularly energy transition. Rapid economic growth and the development of sectors such as artificial intelligence require substantial energy supply. Novatek’s ongoing exchanges and cooperation with Vietnamese partners, combined with aligned development orientations, are expected to create synergistic effects for both sides.
Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính welcomed Novatek’s participation in the development of LNG terminal infrastructure projects, including LNG storage and port facilities, as well as LNG-to-power plants in Hải Phòng, Quảng Ninh, Nam Du (An Giang), Nghi Sơn (Thanh Hóa), and Cà Ná (Khánh Hòa), along with the provision of a stable LNG supply to the Vietnamese market. Pic: VGP/Nhật Bắc.
Assessing energy cooperation between Vietnam and the Russian Federation as a bright spot in bilateral relations over the past more than 50 years, the Prime Minister expressed sincere appreciation to the Russian side for its investment, support, and facilitation, which have enabled Vietnam’s oil and gas sector and the Vietnam National Industry–Energy Group to grow into a multinational corporation. He also emphasized that energy cooperation is an area of Russia’s strength, aligns with Vietnam’s demand, and constitutes a key pillar of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.
In the current context of rapid, complex, and unpredictable global developments, strengthening relations with traditional partners and diversifying supply sources, markets, products, and supply chains is of critical importance. Vietnam is also strongly promoting the application of science and technology, as well as innovation, to restructure and transform its energy sector.
Affirming that both sides share demand and a common vision for cooperation, the Prime Minister expressed support for Novatek to expand its investment activities in Vietnam in accordance with applicable laws, taking into account the foundation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the long-standing traditional friendship between Vietnam and the Russian Federation.
Noting that Vietnam is reviewing and amending legal regulations related to the power sector, the Prime Minister welcomed Novatek’s participation in the development of LNG terminal infrastructure projects, including LNG storage and port facilities, as well as LNG-to-power plants in Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Nam Du (An Giang), Nghi Son (Thanh Hoa), and Ca Na (Khanh Hoa), along with the provision of a stable LNG supply to the Vietnamese market.
With the spirit of “connecting the past, promoting the present, and looking toward the future,” “saving time, valuing intellect, and acting decisively at the right moment,” and “listening with sincerity, sharing from the heart, and acting with tangible products and concrete results,” the Prime Minister requested Novatek to closely coordinate with local authorities, relevant agencies, and energy-sector enterprises (including PVN and EVN), as well as Vietnamese private enterprises, to participate in and implement projects, including the development of large-scale LNG storage facilities by Novatek in Vietnam. He also noted that the Government will encourage Vietnamese enterprises to enhance cooperation with Novatek in liquefied natural gas technologies.
Novatek’s leadership expressed strong agreement and affirmed that the company will actively engage with Vietnamese partners to advance the projects highlighted by Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính./.
HÀ VĂN – VGP
Source: Năng Lượng Việt Nam
