The project has commenced LNG shipments in December 2017. It used Arc7 ice class carriers, each holding 170 thousand cubic meters, for shipments.

Yamal LNG is jointly owned by Novatek with 50.1% stake, Total with 20% interest, CNPC with 20% interest, and the Silk Road Fund with 9.9% stake.

The company said: “Yamal LNG reached the second millionth ton shipped on the 27th cargo loaded and dispatched at the Sabetta seaport from the first LNG train.”

The first LNG train is designed to have capacity of 5.5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) while the second train is now being prepared for the launch.

Yamal LNG said: “In April, the first firing of compressor gas turbines was performed at the second LNG train comprising 5.5 million tons per annum, which represents one of the key milestones in the preparation of the train’s upcoming launch.”

The Yamal LNG project involves construction of the natural gas liquefaction plant based on the Yamal Peninsula, above the Arctic Circle. It uses the hydrocarbon resources of the South-Tambeyskoye field.

Planned to be built in three phases, the Yamal LNG plant is expected to produce 16.5mtpa of LNG and up to 1.2MTPA of gas condensate.

The project will utilize hydrocarbon resources of the South-Tambeyskoye field on the Yamal peninsula located in the Arctic territory of the Russian Federation.

According to estimates, Tambeyskoye has 44 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas and 550 million barrels of condensate, while the proven reserves stand at 1.26tcf of gas and 51.6mt of gas condensate.

Production from the project will be exported to Asia-Pacific and European markets.