Gazprom subsidiary starts exporting LNG by truck to Kazakhstan
YEKATERINBURG. Jan 30 (Interfax) - Gazprom Transgaz Yekaterinburg has dispatched its first shipment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Yekaterinburg to Kazakhstan by truck, an Interfax correspondent reported from the dispatch ceremony.
"This project has become essential in the development of new technologies. We have now not only shipped the first tonne of LNG, but also launched a major program to develop small-scale production and construction of infrastructure in Russia," Gazprom deputy department head Sergei Skrynnikov said.
This technology, which was developed in Sverdlovsk Region, makes it possible to transport LNG "without an expensive pipeline" and to ensure more efficient gasification in the regions, he said. The contract with Kazakhstan is for three years.
The CEO of Kazakhstan's Global Gas Group, Oleg Goncharov said that the gasification of businesses and homes, and conversion of vehicles to gas is important environmentally for Astana, a city with high amounts of harmful emissions. The contract to supply LNG was signed with a division of Global Gas.
There are plans to export more than 320,000 tonnes of methane produced by Gazprom Transgaz Yekaterinburg to Kazakhstan in 2017.
The head of Gazprom Transgaz Yekaterinburg's LNG production facility, Sergei Farrakhov told reporters that, under the terms of the contract, more than 18 tonnes of LNG are to be shipped to Kazakhstan daily in February and about 34 tonnes in March.
Gazprom Export and Global Gas Regasification, a division of Global Gas Group, signed the first contract ever for supplies of LNG from Russia to Kazakhstan by truck in 2016.