Chinese technology to power Russian Arctic LNG plant | Polarjournal
Baker Hughes reportedly suspended service engineers from Gazprom’s Sakhalin-2 and Novatek’s Yamal LNG projects, as well as project engineers and equipment supplies for Novatek’s Arctic LNG-2 plant, which is still under construction. (Photo: Novatek)

Novatek has turned to a Chinese supplier of turbines for gas liquefaction after US-based Baker Hughes broke off ties last year

China-based Harbin Gugnghan Turbine will supply the turbines that will power the first two production lines of the Arctic LNG-2 project being built by Novatek, Russia’s largest independent gas producer. The project was left without a turbine supplier after US-based Baker Hughes pulled out last year. Each of the turbines will have a capacity of 150 MW and should be in place to meet Novatek’s plans for the first line to open at the end of this year, and second next year. The Chinese turbines are based on a Soviet-era Ukrainian design, and experts have warned that their quality is significantly lower than modern Western turbines. Concern has also been raised about whether they can hold up to an Arctic climate.

The Arctic LNG-2 production area is located on the eastern side of the Gulf of Ob (Map: Google Maps / Heiner Kubny) (Graphic: Heiner Kubny)

Novatek had been looking to procure gas turbines for Arctic LNG-2 project for a year. Originally, Baker Hughes was to supply about 20 LM9000 turbines with a capacity of up to 75 MW for three of the plant’s production lines. However, only four units were shipped before sanctions were imposed against Russia in retaliation for its unprovoked attack on Ukraine. These will be used by Arctic LNG-2 in the first line.

Each of the turbines will have a capacity of 150 MW and should be in place to meet Novatek’s plans for the first line to open at the end of this year, and second next year. The Chinese turbines are based on a Soviet-era Ukrainian design, and experts have warned that their quality is significantly lower than modern Western turbines. Concern has also been raised about whether they can hold up to an Arctic climate.

China’s GT-25000 gas turbine is based on a Soviet-era Ukrainian gas turbine (Photo: Harbin Guanghan Turbine)

Yuri Melnikov, an independent expert, said: “Originally, the turbine of 1980s Ukrainian origin was intended for Soviet warships. But in China it could not only be used for its intended purpose, but also converted for stationary use. Of course, it cannot be compared with machines from Siemens and Baker Hughes, it seems that these are the first commercial samples. The harsh natural environment of the Ob Gulf in Russia will be a serious challenge to the long-term reliable operational performance of this model and will pose a serious risk.”

As the completion of the third Arctic LNG-2 line will not take place until 2025, Novatek has plenty of time to test the Chinese turbine and gain experience with it.

Heiner Kubny, PolarJournal

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