SEATTLE (Oil Monster): Russia's largest independent natural gas producer, Novatek, is accelerating work on its Murmansk LNG project. This comprises the construction of a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal and a large storage facility on the shores of Kola Bay in northwestern Russia.
The construction site, located near Belokamenka, spans roughly one square kilometre and features at least 15 storage tanks along with a dedicated LNG terminal. The project is positioned close to Novatek's LNG Construction Centre. Most of the development has taken place over the past year.
ALSO READ:
TotalEnergies expands UAE upstream gas portfolio
ECA's first LNG cargo departs amid feedgas disruption signals
According to Novatek, the terminal will be situated between Belokamenka and the Kulonga River, while the LNG plant will be built adjacent to the construction centre. The Murmansk LNG project is within proximity to several key Russian naval facilities, including the Northern Fleet headquarters in Severomorsk.
The development comes as Novatek continues to face significant challenges from international sanctions targeting Russia's LNG sector.
Novatek plans to commission the first two production lines of the Murmansk LNG project by the end of 2027, with the third unit before 2030. Once fully operational, the facility is expected to have a combined production capacity of 20.4 million tonnes of LNG per year. The project also includes a new gas pipeline connecting the plant to Torzhok in central Russia.
