Novatek’s Yamal LNG will face logistical challenges during the coming winter months

Shipping — and icebreaking — capacity to carry Yamal LNG to market lags behind, even as production increases ahead of schedule.

Russian natural gas major Novatek is bound to face logistical challenges at its Yamal LNG operation despite ongoing efforts to streamline shipping operations. The company aims to open the third production line or train at the end of 2018, more than six months ahead of schedule, while it won’t take delivery of the last batch of five ice-class Arc7 LNG carriers until later in 2019.