NOVATEK is preparing to move its liquefied natural gas (LNG) transshipment point from Zeebrugge, Belgium, to the area of Kildin Island, located near Murmansk. This decision is due to the ban on re-exporting Russian LNG in EU ports. It will take effect at the end of March 2025.
LNG transshipment in the Kildin area is carried out using the "ship-to-ship" scheme and is seasonal, operating from November to June. NOVATEK has already begun to bring in new tankers to this region to optimize the process. In 2024, the transshipment volume at Kildin amounted to 1.5 million tons. It may increase to 2.5–2.8 million tons per year.
Currently, NOVATEK uses a fleet of 15 Arc7 ice-class tankers, but due to US sanctions, the flagship tanker "Christophe de Margerie" cannot be used. Moving transshipment to Kildin will improve the logistics of LNG supplies to Asia, as well as unload the tanker fleet.
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