Novatek sees Arctic LNG 2 1st line at full capacity Jan–Mar 2024

BELOKAMENKA, Murmansk Region/MURMANSK, Jul 21 (PRIME) -- Russian independent gas producer Novatek expects the first production line of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) project Arctic LNG 2 to reach full capacity of 6.6 million tonnes in January–March 2024, CEO Leonid Mikhelson told reporters late on Thursday.

“We plan to stick to the deadline of launching the first line in 2023, and it would take time for the line to reach its projected capacity.We expect that to happen in the first quarter of next year,” he said.

“As regards to where the first batch would go to, let’s say if you asked me that in December 2017 during the launch of the Yamal LNG’s first line, I would never have guessed that one of the first batches would end up in Boston. It will go to where the market will be.”

During a government meeting that discussed implementation of the Novatek-Murmansk LNG Construction Center project, President Vladimir Putin said that Arctic LNG 2 would be implemented on time and with great quality.

“LNG projects are obviously important because they provide a comprehensive impact on the entire economy, they allow us to win back that share of the global LNG market, they allow us to improve the related industries,” Putin said.

Mikhelson also told reporters later that Novatek planned to start implementation of the Murmansk LNG project in a year and that the company still wanted to finish the Volkhov–Murmansk gas pipeline until 2027.

“We scheduled implementation (of the Murmansk LNG project) right after the launch of the second platform (for Arctic LNG 2) from the docks. It would happen exactly in 12 months, the dock will become free at the end of July or at the beginning of August (2024), and we will have to start making a liquefaction line for the next project that we called the Murmansk LNG,” he said.

“As for the Volkhov-Murmansk gas pipeline, everyone understands that we need to build it. We have to start building it tomorrow so that it is finished in 2027. I think that we will solve all the problems in a right way,” Mikhelson added.

Arctic LNG 2 is to operate three LNG production lines with capacities of 6.6 million tonnes each. Novatek plans to launch the first line 2023, the second in 2024, and the third in 2026.

The Murmansk LNG plant would also have three LNG lines with an annual capacity of 6.8 million tonnes each, two of which should be launched in 2027 and 2029. The 1,300-kilometer Volkhov–Murmansk pipeline will ensure pumping of resources to the plant.

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