21OCT2019 - NEWS - Gazprom plays LNG catch-up

The Russian gas heavyweight is looking to close the gap with competitor Novatek
Russia’s state-controlled Gazprom is banking on a new export project on the Baltic Sea to establish itself as a major LNG player and claw back its deficit to private competitor Novatek in the fast-growing global market. 

And it has taken the next step in realising its vision by striking a deal with Germany’s Linde to collaborate on liquefaction technology design. 

Gazprom was once seen as the undisputed frontrunner in Russian LNG. Following the launch of its 11mn t/yr Sakhalin-2 LNG export terminal in 2009, it drew up plans for several more projects across Russia. But the company later ceded its position to Novatek, which began commissioning its 17.4mn t/yr Yamal LNG plant in the Arctic in late 2017. While Gazprom’s efforts to advance other projects since Sakhalin-2’s start-up have floundered, Novatek has already begun building its second export plant, the 19.8mn t/yr Arctic LNG-2.