For the first time in history, Russia is supplying LNG to Norway. The LNG tanker “Vladimir Rusanov” left the port of Sabetta on April 6 and set course for the west. Up to 172,600 cubic metres of natural gas are on board. The consignee of the cargo is the Hammerfest LNG plant in Melkøya, which was opened in 2007 and is operated by Equinor.
The LNG tanker “Vladimir Rusanov” reached its destination in the far north of Norway on the morning of April 10 It was the first time that natural gas was sold from the Yamal Peninsula to Norway and a Russian LNG tanker sailed to Hammerfest with a shipload.
According to Equinor, the Yamal LNG is needed to maintain its natural gas storage facilities in Melkøya. The LNG plant at Hammerfest is under reconstruction after a severe fire caused extensive damage on September 28, 2020. The plan is to resume production probably in October 2021.
On the island of Melkøya, the plant for storing and processing natural gas from the Snøhvitfeltet natural gas field in the Barents Sea was built. The gas is transported to Melkøya through a 143 km gas pipeline. On the island, it is processed into liquefied natural gas. It is then transported away by tanker. The plant went into operation in autumn 2007.
Heiner Kubny, PolarJournal
