Novatek forms Murmansk LNG unit

Russian LNG producer Novatek has formed a new unit to develop its planned Murmansk liquefied natural gas export project.

According to a document posted on the website of Russia’s register of legal entities, the name of the new firm is Murmansk LNG Limited Liability Company.

The new firm was registered on December 1 in Murmansk, with a capital of 100 million rubles.

Novatek-Tarkosaleneftegaz owns 99 percent of the shares in the firm while Novatek Moscow Region holds 1 percent.

Dmitry Anishchenko, who also heads Novatek-Ust-Luga, is the general director of the new firm.

In September, Novatek signed a deal with compatriot firm Rosseti to secure power for the Murmansk LNG development.

Reports previously said that the Murmansk LNG project would have three trains and a total capacity of about 20.4 mtpa.

In June, Novatek obtained a Russian patent for its proprietary technology called “Arctic Mix” for large-scale natural gas liquefaction using mixed refrigerants.

According to Novatek, the firm developed this LNG process technology to implement the company’s large-scale projects on gravity-based structures with a production capacity of 6+ mtpa per LNG train.

Novatek currently exports LNG via its 17.4 mtpa Yamal LNG plant and the mid-scale facility with a capacity of 660,000 tons in Vysotsk.

The firm is also building the 19.8 mtpa Arctic LNG 2 plant and in August completed the installation of the first of three trains which will serve the project.

Novatek is planning to start commercial operations from this unit in the first quarter of 2024.