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Russia's Novatek may downsize Arctic LNG 2, concentrate on Murmansk, sources state

Russia's Novatek is being forced to scale back its big Arctic LNG 2 task after Western sanctions curbed its access to iceclass tankers, and will focus rather on establishing its task at the icefree port of Murmansk, market sources stated.

Russia has been focusing on developing international sales of seaborne LNG to offset a drop in pipeline gas exports to Europe, which have actually plunged to post-Soviet lows amidst a severe rift with the West over Ukraine.

The possible scaling back of the Arctic LNG 2 plant in the Gydan peninsular would make complex Moscow's goal to increase its share of the international LNG market to a fifth by 2030-2035 from around 8% currently.

The job had been due to become Russia's largest such plant with eventual output of 19.8 million metric lots annually of LNG and 1.6 million loads per year of steady gas condensate from three trains.

Novatek did not react to a request for discuss its strategies.

The business began melted natural gas (LNG) production at Arctic LNG 2's first train in December, but has actually lagged schedule in providing its very first cargoes of super-cooled gas from the job amidst lacks of ice-class gas carriers.

Sources have stated the conversion of methane into a liquid at a temperature level of minus 163 Celsius (minus 261 Fahrenheit) has now been suspended at the plant.

Its third and 2nd lines were due to begin operations in 2024 and 2026 respectively, with its second production train currently being built at a plant in Belokamenka in the Murmansk area.

However, the 3rd train might be used rather at the Murmansk LNG plant revealed by Novatek last June.

A choice is being thought about is to send out a 2nd gravity platform for Arctic LNG-2 in the summer, and to utilize a third one for Murmansk LNG, a source knowledgeable about the plans stated.

The Murmansk LNG project is slated to be even bigger than Arctic LNG 2, with eventual output of 20.4 million tons per year. It is projected to begin production at its very first 2 trains by the end of 2027, with a last line arranged to begin operations in 2029.

One of the benefits of the Murmansk task in contrast to Arctic LNG 2 would be its access to the ice-free port in the Barents Sea.

All attention now is on Murmansk, the ice-class tankers are not needed there, a source said.

The plans for Arctic LNG 2 were made complex last year when it was consisted of in Western sanctions over Russia's dispute in Ukraine, prompting foreign investors to freeze participation and Novatek to issue a force majeure.

Novatek has likewise failed to protect sufficient ice-class gas carriers as foreign partners were frightened by sanctions.

The head of Arctic LNG 2 stakeholder TotalEnergies stated in February that the project's third train had actually been put on hold however the 2nd train was likely to be installed.

(source: Reuters)