Yamal LNG Crushes Output Capacity in 2019

Yamal LNG blew past its nameplate capacity in its first full year of having all three liquefaction trains in operation. 

Novatek’s Yamal LNG, which recently celebrated 30 million tons shipped since its inauguration in December 2017, announced last week it produced 18.4 million tons of LNG in 2019, exceeding the plant’s design capacity by 11 percent or 1.9 million tons.

The Yamal LNG plant consists of LNG trains of 5.5 million tons per year (mpta) each and one LNG train of 900 thousand tons per year. The facility produces LNG from hydrocarbons extracted from the South-Tambeyskoye field in the Russian Arctic. The first LNG Train began production in Q4 2017, while trains 2 and 3 started in July 2018 and November 2018, respectively.

During summer months, LNG produced at Yamal LNG is shipped to Northeast Asia via the Northern Sea Route on board a fleet of 15 Arc7 icebreaking LNG carriers. In winter, the ships travel westward to Europe, with transshipment through one of several European regasification terminals.

The project last week announced its milestone 30 millionth ton shipped onboard the Nikolay Yevgenov. The shipment marked the 411th cargo lifted from the plant.

The 299-meter-long tankers can carry up to 172,600 cubic meters of liquefied natural gas. With ice-class Arc7, the vessels are capable of operating year-round in the Arctic without the support of icebreakers.

Yamal LNG shareholders include PAO NOVATEK (50.1%), Total (20%), CNPC (20%), and the Silk Road Fund (9.9%).