Russian natural gas major Novatek announced, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Novatek Gas and Power Asia Pte. Ltd., that it has shipped its first LNG produced cargo from the Yamal LNG project to China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), through the Northern Sea Route, as part of its plans to expand customer base in China.
The LNG cargo was delivered to Fujian LNG Terminal in China via the Northern Sea Route by an Arc7 ice-class LNG carrier in 20 days. The Northern Sea Route part was completed in 7.5 days.
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The shipment presented the company’s first cargo movement along the Northern Sea Route via the Eastern direction in November, essentially towards the end of the seasonal navigation period, according to Leonid Mikhelson, Novatek’s Chairman of the Management Board.
Mr. Mikhelson added that the LNG cargo did not need any ice-breaking support and was shipped to its final destination ‘in a very short period of time at a commercially viable speed‘.
As the diminishing Arctic sea ice is opening new shipping routes, the Northern Sea Route has revealed a new potential for natural energy cargo transport. In this regard, Chinese major COSCO Shipping Corporation and Japanese MOL have jointly invested in ships with new ice-breaking capabilities able to carry LNG from Yamal LNG to LNG markets across the globe. The first three ships started delivery this year.