Gazprom begins regular transportation of LNG, liquid helium to China via border crossings

VLADIVOSTOK. Feb 7 (Interfax) - Gazprom Helium Service begins regular transportation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquid helium to China via border crossings in the Far East, the company said in a statement.

Commercial products are delivered using the company's own LNG transport to several Chinese provinces.

According to the company's information, in January 2024 more than 50 containers with liquefied gases were sent from the Far East along routes with distances ranging from 250 km to 2,000 km.

The company's fleet consists of 73 Kamaz LNG trucks .

Commercial LNG is delivered both to the company's own cryogenic containers and to customers' tanks. Commercial helium is shipped to customers' isothermal containers.

Liquefied natural gas is produced at Gazprom's small-capacity LNG complexes in the Primorye Territory and the Amur Region, while liquid helium is shipped from the Amur Gas Processing Plant (GPP).

Russia is among the world's leaders in helium reserves. Its domestic production is mainly carried out by two Gazprom enterprises: the Orenburg Helium Plant and the Amur GPP.

The Amur GPP is the world's largest helium producer. Once it reaches full capacity, it will produce 60 million cubic meters of this gas. In 2023 Gazprom brought the plant's two helium units to full capacity. The equipment was commissioned without the participation of a Western licensor. A third unit is currently under construction at the plant.

Since September 2023, 110 iso-containers with more than 470 tons of liquid helium have been shipped from the Amur GPP to Russian and foreign consumers, Gazprom's press service reported.

Gazprom Helium Service is Gazprom Group's operating company for implementing investment projects using cryogenic technologies.