Gazprom postpones launch of Russia’s first LNG plant from coal bed methane

Gazprom dobycha Kuznetsk (a subsidiary of Gazprom) postponed the launch of a plant for the production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from coal-bed methane in the Kemerovo region. It was assumed that the first such plant in Russia would be launched on the basis of the Naryksko-Ostashkinskoye methane-coal field in 2023 and reach full capacity in 2024. Now the launch is expected no earlier than 2026, said a representative of the Kemerovo region Vedomosti.

The regional government said that in 2026 the first stage of the project with a capacity of 3 t / h will be launched – about 26.3 thousand tons per year. It has not yet been determined when the plant will reach full capacity. The postponement is explained by “updating the current technological scheme for the development of the Naryksko-Ostashkinskoye field.” It is alleged that at the meetings of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Kuzbass with Gazprom, the issue of problems with technologies or equipment was not raised.

Experts interviewed by Vedomosti believe that Gazprom has the necessary technologies for the construction of small and medium-sized LNG plants. For Western components of equipment, analogues from China were selected. Experts suggest that questions may arise regarding the production part of the project.

The construction of a plant with a capacity of 220 thousand tons began in 2021. Then it was expected that by 2023 the first stage would be launched. It was planned to use the produced LNG for mining equipment and housing and communal services, as well as to increase the number of gas stations in the region.

Leonid Uvarchev