There is no alternative to Suez Canal for Yamal LNG westward transportation, Dmitry Rusanov, deputy director of LNG fleets at Sovcomflot, told PortNews IAA.
“There is no alternative transportation for Yamal gas. The route via the Cape of Good Hope is longer and transportation expenses become higher. Political instability in Egypt is still temporary and I hope it does not yet effect the operation of the Suez Canal – a significant source of income for the state economy,” Sovcomflot representative believes.
We remind that Sovcomflot has proposed NOVATEK to create a consortium to manage LNG tankers within the framework of Yamal LNG project. 16 gas carriers with the aggregate capacity of 16.5 mln tons of LNG are totally valued at some $6 bln.
As it was reported earlier, toll increases were announced by the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), to be implemented on 1 May 2013. In this context the International Chamber of Shipping expressed its opinion on the necessity to find alternative routes, in particular, the route via the Cape of Good Hope was proposed.