Coronavirus to stop Novatek’s LNG transshipment in Murmansk

MOSCOW, Mar 30 (PRIME) – Russian independent gas producer Novatek will resume board-to-board transshipment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Norway because the international anti-coronavirus restrictions will prevent from launching it in Murmansk, a spokesperson for Novatek told PRIME on Monday.

“Novatek finished construction of anchoring positions for board-to-board transshipment near the Kildin Island of the Murmansk Region. Currently, the objective restrictions are imposed on travels of foreign specialists necessary for the launch of transshipment operations in Russia at this stage due to the expansion of the coronavirus infection,” the spokesperson said.

“That is why temporary transshipment in the waters of Norway seems safer and a more grounded decision.”

Novatek CEO Leonid Mikhelson said in late 2018 that Norway experienced pressure from the Western partners due to LNG transshipment operations that the company was holding in the country’s waters, and Novatek decided to switch the board-to-board LNG transshipment to Murmansk from Norway in 2019.

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