Yamal LNG Train 2 Starts Exports: Total

Total announced August 9 that the first LNG shipment from Yamal LNG's second train in northern Russia is ready to leave Sabetta. The third train is expected to start up in early 2019. 

The new train adds an additional 5.5mn mt/yr of LNG capacity to the facility, bringing the total capacity in operation to 11mn mt/yr. At full capacity, the three-train complex's capacity will reach 16.5mn mt/yr.

“Following the successful start-up of Yamal LNG in December last year, the first shipment from the second train ahead of schedule is another major milestone for this world-class LNG project,” said Total CEO Patrick Pouyanne.

Novatek said that Yamal's second train was commissioned six months ahead of its original schedule, and means both its first two trains achieved commissioning "in record time." It said the first gas input into the second LNG train occurred on July 21 and confirmed that it is now operating at its rated nameplate 5.5mn mt/yr capacity. 

Novatek CEO Leonid Mikhelson said that Yamal train 3 is also expected to be launched "significantly ahead of original schedule" and that the total operating capacity of the two working LNG trains already amounts to some 3.5% of the global LNG market and thus is "a significant project in the context of the global LNG landscape."

Pouyanne added that Total would "keep developing new LNG projects in the Russian Arctic with our strategic partner Novatek" as illustrated by Total's recent announcement of its 10% entry in Arctic LNG 2. Novatek and Total also agreed in May that Total will have the opportunity to acquire a 10% to 15% direct interest in Novatek's future LNG projects in Yamal and Gydan.

Mikhelson said Aug.9 that Novatek's strategic goal, as operator, is "to produce between 55mn and 60mn mt/yr by 2030”.

Yamal LNG is operated by Russian independent gas producer Novatek (50.1%); partners are Total (20%), and from China, state-owned state CNPC (20%) and investment fund Silk Road Fund (9.9%).