Hammerfest LNG has resumed production after extensive repairs and improvements following the fire in September 2020.

Equinor elaborated that now the first liquified natural gas (LNG) is “on tank” at Melkøya.

“With the start-up of Hammerfest LNG, we add further volume to the already substantial gas deliveries from Norway. This is of great significance in a period when predictable and reliable supplies are highly important to many countries and customers,” says Irene Rummelhoff, Equinor’s executive vice president, Marketing, Midstream and Processing.

Approximately 5% of Norway’s gas exports go to Europe from Hammerfest LNG. Hammerfest LNG can deliver around 6.5 billion cubic meters of gas per year, which is equivalent to the gas needs of 6.5 million European households.

From identifying and measuring the extent of the damage, to planning repairs and improvements, to implementing the project, safety has been the highest priority. Over 1,000 people have worked daily to bring the plant back on line safely through systematic and targeted work. Production will be resumed in stages.

In addition to routine maintenance and repairs, sophisticated equipment and compressors have been repaired. We have replaced 180 km of electric cables and checked more than 22,000 components. In order to minimize infection spread, extensive infection control measures and strict distancing rules have been implemented.

Normally, it takes four to five days for the storage tanks at Hammerfest LNG to be filled, before the LNG tankers are loaded with LNG and delivered to terminals around the world. Three LNG tankers are currently anchored outside Melk*ya, waiting for cargo from Hammerfest LNG.

Equinor Energy AS, Petoro AS, TotalEnergies EP Norge AS, Neptune Energy Norge AS, and Wintershall Dea Norge AS participate in the partnership. Equinor operates Hammerfest.