The export terminal in the russian Black Sea port of Taman is preparing to stop transshipment of liquefied natural gas to tankers due to the threat of attacks on the infrastructure.
Source. Reuters writes about this with reference to three sources in the industry.
russian Railways (RZhD) has imposed restrictions on the transportation of liquefied natural gas to Taman since May 31, and Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZh), a Kazakh operator, has imposed a similar ban since June 6.
"Taman has decided to mothball the terminal (for liquefied gas transshipment) for three months due to the attacks on the Afip refinery," said one of the traders familiar with the situation.
"Tamaneftegaz is located near the Crimean Bridge, on the Black Sea coast of Krasnodar Krai, which has been repeatedly attacked by unmanned aerial vehicles in recent years.
This week, such attacks resulted in fires at the Afip and Ilya refineries 150-160 km from Taman, and in February 2023, at the Tuapse oil terminal, 220 km from Taman.
Three sources told Reuters that gas transshipment in Taman will be suspended indefinitely due to the high explosiveness of liquefied gas.
"Taman is stopping gas transshipment because it is dangerous after all these (drone) attacks – gases are the most dangerous," one of the sources said.
The second source added that it is planned to suspend gas transshipment in Taman for an indefinite period of time.
"It is planned to suspend (gas transshipment) without clear terms (of resumption). Apparently, the main exporters have recognized their risks," he said.
According to the sources, the transshipment of liquefied natural gas to LNG carriers is still ongoing.
"Most likely, the volumes that are currently in the port (in tanks and railroad tanks) and on the road (towards the terminal) will be transferred to the vessels, and then the transshipment will be suspended."
Market participants, assuming that the suspension of gas transshipment through the Taman terminal could be quite long, are already exploring alternative routes for LNG supplies.