On 27 December 2019, the Federal Agency for Subsoil Use held an auction for the Bukharinskiy block of the State Significance in Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug (Western Siberia). Novatek-subsidiary Arctic LNG 1 won the contest with the offer of RUB 2,346 million (USD 37.8 million). Ownership of licenses in the region and possession of existing or planned LNG facilities were the pre-conditions for applicants. Only Novatek meets the requirements. The winner of the auction will receive a 30-year license with a 10-year exploratory stage.   The Bukharinskiy block covers 2,447 sq km including 1,608 sq km in the south-western part of the Gydan Peninsula and 839 sq km in the Ob and Taz estuaries (South Kara-Yamal Province). It encompasses the Bukharinskaya prospect with D0 resources estimated at 33.464 Tcf of gas and 237 MMbbl of condensate. Hydrocarbon resources (categories D1+D2) of the block are estimated at 7.292 Tcf of gas and 351 MMbbl of condensate. The starting price amounted to RUB 2,133.2 million (USD 34.4 million).
Novatek won the 2,447-sq km Bukharinskiy block (of state significance) in the Gydan peninsular area (Ob and Taz bays), Yamal-Nenets AO, W. Siberia.