NOVATEK launches liquefied natural gas plant in Magnitogorsk, Russia

Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) producer NOVATEK has launched the first small-scale LNG plant in the Chelyabinsk region in Magnitogorsk, Russia.

The LNG plant is designed to operate at a production capacity of 40,000 tonnes per annum (tpa).

NOVATEK’s wholly-owned subsidiary NOVATEK-Chelyabinsk has started pilot LNG production at the facility.

Russian cryogenic technologies manufacturer JSC NPO GELIYMASH has provided major technological equipment for the project.

According to NOVATEK, the LNG produced will be sold primarily as natural gas motor fuel. This indicates that the company is actively developing the downstream market.

The Russian producer will supply LNG to its refueling complexes for passenger, cargo transport and mining equipment in the Chelyabinsk region and other nearby areas.

NOVATEK Management Board chairman Leonid Mikhelson said: “The use of LNG as a motor fuel is strongly supported by NOVATEK.

“This represents a promising market segment that we are actively developing both in Russia and abroad. The use of liquefied natural gas as a motor fuel can significantly reduce emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere that is important to protect the environment, as well as to reduce the fuel costs for transportation”.

Last month, NOVATEK announced that its wholly owned subsidiary NOVATEK Gas & Power Asia had shipped first cargo from the Yamal LNG project to Japan.

In December last year, NOVATEK announced the delivery of first LNG cargo from Yamal LNG project to Bangladesh. This shipment was made as part of the long-term offtake agreement with French energy firm Total.