A protocol finalising the conditions and parameters for the concession was signed on May 12 by Russian transport minister, Mr Maxim Sokolov, Russian Railways (RZD) chairman, Mr Oleg Belozerov, governor of Yamsal-Nenets Autonomous District, Mr Dmitry Kobylkin, and representatives of Gazprom and the NLR concession company.

Scheduled for completion in 2023, the public-private partnership project involves building a 353km line linking Salekhard and Nadym with new bridges across the Ob and Nadym rivers. The line is forecast to carry 23.9 million tonnes of freight, primarily gas condensate and crude oil.