Gazprom supplies 1st LNG cargo to India via Northern Sea route

Gazprom has delivered an LNG cargo to India through the Northern Sea route for the first time ever, Gazprom Export said on October 26.

The cargo was loaded onto floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) Marshal Vasilevskiy on September 23 at Novatek-operated Yamal LNG export terminal. It was unloaded on October 23 at the Dabhol regasification terminal which is operated by Indian state-run Gail.

The Russian LNG cargo was delivered under the long-term contract signed with Gail. The deal was originally signed in 2012 and subsequently amended in 2018. Gazprom supplies 2.5mn metric tons/year of LNG. The first cargo under this deal was delivered in June 2018. 

‘We are very pleased to contribute to the Northern Sea Route development. Today, this sea route has already become an important element of the global gas trading system, and it has great prospects,” said Sergey Sakharov, deputy director general for LNG and petroleum products exports of Gazprom Export.

Marshal Vasilevskiy is the only Russian FSRU that can also transport LNG. The vessel has the Arc 4 ice-class. It is owned by Gazprom Flot and its charterer is Gazprom Export. It is managed by Sovcomflot.

Last year, India said it was considering sourcing crude oil and LNG from Russia via the Arctic route in order to cut costs and delivery time.