Gazprom stands by Sakhalin 2 date
News wires
Russian gas giant Gazprom said today it was sticking to its deadline to start
exports of liquefied natural gas from the Sakhalin 2 project at the
beginning of 2009.
"We will start our first LNG shipments at the beginning of next year at
the latest," Alexander Medvedev, head of Gazprom's export arm, told a
briefing.
Last year, Sakhalin Energy, the operator of Sakhalin 2, controlled by Gazprom
and involving Shell, Mitsui and Mitsubishi, said it would delay first LNG
shipments to spring 2009 from the initially planned end of this year.
Gazprom took a controlling stake in the $22 billion project after a prolonged
crisis forcing Shell, the project's former leader, and its partners to
reduce their holdings, and analysts have expected the battle would lead to
delays.
Sakhalin Energy has sold over 90% of the planned 9.6 million tonnes per year
LNG production under long-term contracts, with 60% going to Japan and the
rest supplied to South Korea as well as to North America's west coast.
Medvedev said North America would be among the main markets for future LNG
exports from Gazprom's other LNG projects, like the Shtokman project in the
Barents sea, which is set to start producing gas in 2013, or Yamal in the
Russian Arctic, whose timeframe is still under discussion.
"We see big potential in North America. It is one of the most promising
markets," he said.
23 April 2008 12:16 GMT
| last updated:
23 April 2008 14:11 GMT
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