Novatek has launched the second train of its Yamal LNG project in Sabetta in the Russian Arctic, six months ahead of schedule.
The first gas input into the second LNG train was on the 21st of July, and today the first cargo was loaded on board the LNG tanker “Pskov” owned and operated by Sovcomflot.
According to Sovcomflot, the vessel was subchartered by Yamal LNG from Gazprom. The first cargo will be shipped to one of the terminals in the West.
Another LNG tanker in Sovcomflot’s fleet, “Christophe de Margerie” that crossed the Northern Sea Route in a new record time for a merchant ship without icebreaker support during July, is to start loading gas in Sabetta in eight days.
At present, the vessel is returning from China, she is expected to make her way back by the Northern Sea Route also unassisted.
The Yamal LNG project envisages three trains 5.5 mn tons of liquefied natural gas per annum each. Gas is sourced from the South Tambey field on the Yamal Peninsula.
So far, 47 shipments, or over 3.5 mn tons of LNG have been loaded on tankers from the first Yamal LNG train put into operation in December 2017.
According to Leonid Mikhelson, Chairman of the Novatek Management Board, the total operating capacity of the two working LNG trains already approximates about 3.5% of the global LNG market. @Our strategic goal is to produce between 55 and 60 mmtpa by 2030”, he said.