Natural Gas Daily: September 21st, 2020

Gazprom & Partner Complete 1st Well at Siberian Field

Russia's Gazprom and its private partner Rusgazdobycha have completed their first well at the Semakovskoye field in Western Siberia, they said on September 18.

Advertisement: The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (NGC) NGC’s HSSE strategy is reflective and supportive of the organisational vision to become a leader in the global energy business. ngc.co.tt

• Gazprom and Rusgazdobycha took a final investment decision on Semakovskoye in June.

• The two companies are also working together to develop a gas processing and LNG complex on the Baltic Sea, due to start up in 2023.

PGNiG to Buy Shell Stakes in Norwegian Fields

Poland's PGNiG has agreed to buy interests in the Kvitebjorn and Valemon producing fields in the North Sea from Shell, it announced. It did not say how much it paid.

• Output at the fields will later be pumped to Poland via the Baltic Pipe, due on stream in October 2022.

• The gas supplier has been on a buying spree in Norway over the past several years, acquiring gas resources that can be used to fill Baltic Pipe's 10bn m³/yr capacity.

Uniper to Start Binding Bids Process for LNG Terminal

German utility Uniper delayed its open season for binding bids for capacity at LNG Terminal Wilhelmshaven by nine days. It is now to start September 22, having originally been planned for September 14. The process closes October 30.

• It is one of a number of terminals that could be operational in Germany in a few years time. Hanseatic LNG is planning an open season later this year as well, while German utility RWE is expected to book most of the capacity at the terminal planned for Brunsbuttel.

Spain's Balearia Launches LNG-Fuelled Fast Ferry

Spanish ferry operator Balearia has launched the world's first fast ferry powered with LNG at the Armon shipyard in Gijon, Spain, it said on September 19.

• Its four dual-fuel 8.8-MW engines, propulsion system and fuel gas system were supplied by Finland's Wartsila.

Belarus to Settle Gazprom Debts from Eurasian Bank Loan: Press

Belarus will use around $330mn of a loan from the Eurasian Fund for Stabilisation and Development (EFSD) to pay its gas debts to Gazprom, Russian finance minister Anton Siluanov was quoted as saying by the Tass news agency on September 20.

• Belarus and Russia have been in a dispute over oil and gas supplies for years. Complicating matters further, the two countries have been in on-again, off-again talks on deeper political and economic integration.

• Belarus imports all its gas and nearly all its electricity from Russia, which cramps its style if it wants to liberalise the market and enjoy the benefits of competitive gas prices.

Nakilat Takes Control of Al Rekayyat LNGC

Qatari shipowner Nakilat has assumed full ship management and operation of the Al Rekayyat Q-Flex LNG carrier from Shell Trading and Shipping Company as part of the second phase of its fleet management transition programme, it said on September 20.

• Al Rekayyat is the sixth vessel to come under the management of Nakilat this year, bringing the total number of vessels managed by the company to 25, including 21 LNG and 4 LPG carriers.

• The company's net profit during the six months to June 30 was Qatari riyal 550mn ($151mn), up 15% yr/yr, it said on July 15 in a statement.