Russia, Belgium discuss expanding opportunities for LNG transshipment via Zeebrugge
© RIA Novosti. Aleksey Nikolskyi

Russia, Belgium discuss expanding opportunities for LNG transshipment via Zeebrugge

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel have discussed expanding opportunities for transshipping liquefied natural gas (LNG) via the Belgian port of Zeebrugge, Interfax reported.

"There is a project to expand the port's capacity to ship larger cargo volumes, including products from Yamal," Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with representatives of the Economic Council of the Franco-Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which took place following the Russian-Belgian bilateral meeting on January 31. The Belgian port of Zeebrugge is Europe's major LNG transshipping terminal.   

"You all know very well that the shipments have begun. The first tanker has already docked in the United States," the Russian President said.

"We are now in talks, including with Total, on the second construction phase and an even larger project called Arctic LNG-2. We are hard at work, and I hope that the French companies will remain proactive on the Russian market," said Novatek stakeholder Gennady Timchenko, who also took part in the meeting.

Previously, Novatek CEO Leonid Mikhelson said he was expecting Novatek's other partner in the Yamal LNG project, China's CNPC, to take part in the construction of a new plant. According to Mikhelson, CNPC is now thoroughly considering the opportunity.

Japanese companies are considering opportunities to join Novatek's second project on gas liquefaction as well, Mikhelson said.