Chinese yards told to dismantle Western equipment as work on Arctic LNG 2 modules resumes

Russia’s Novatek has ordered Chinese yards to restart work on modules destined for the 20 million tonnes per annum Arctic LNG 2 project in West Siberia, after an eight-month hiatus in activities related to European sanctions on Russia.

The yards have also been asked to substitute European equipment with a Chinese equivalent in order to sidestep European Union sanctions imposed following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Work for Trains 2 and 3 of the Arctic LNG 2 project, in Murmansk, resumed after Paris-based Gygaz — a joint venture between Technip Energies and Saipem — assigned its remaining contractual rights and obligations to Gydan LNG SNC, a new Dubai-based consortium with Russian project management company Nipigas as apparently the only member.