Start-stop for Russian LNG

Some Russian LNG projects are advancing, but bigger expansion plans look ever distant

The launch of Novatek's Yamal liquefied natural gas venture in late 2017 will put the seal on Russia's redirected and upgraded global LNG strategy. Russia's renewed push to become a large global LNG player has been based on two strategic adjustments: the so-called "pivot to the east" to target premium LNG markets in Asia rather than the originally intended US market, which is flooded with domestic shale gas; and putting Russian LNG onto the market as quickly as possible, drawing on reserves that have already been explored and are ready for development. Yamal LNG will be the first project to take advantage of Russia's export liberalisation law that broke Gazprom's complete monopoly on all gas