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But now, after revelations that a Soviet-era nerve into obstacles. On September 3, Chevron Aus-
agent known as Novichok was used in Navalny’s tralia said it would require extra time to complete
attempted assassination, a number of German repairs of propane heat exchangers on Train 2 at
politicians have called on Berlin to withdraw the Gorgon terminal on Barrow Island, off the
its support. Some of these calls have come northwest coast of Western Australia. Chevron
from Merkel’s own CDU party, including from had initially anticipated completing the repairs
Norbert Rottgen, chairman of the parliament’s and returning Train 2 to service in September,
foreign affairs committee and party leadership but now it expects the restart in October.
candidate. He has said Nord Stream 2 should be The company said that following its ongo-
halted “as a joint European response.” ing technical work, it was further refining its
To say that the controversial pipeline project approach and had decided that some welds in
has suffered more than its fair share of challenges targeted areas would require additional work. A
over the years is an understatement. However, trade union had previously raised concerns that
NewsBase does not expect Germany to shift its the heat exchangers would need to be replaced
position on Nord Stream 2 when the pipeline is altogether, so while the repairs are more exten-
so near completion, especially given the clear sive than Chevron initially expected, it appears
benefits it will provide for the German economy. that this was not the worst-case scenario.
In other news, Russia has, as expected, Chevron is due to take Trains 1 and 3 offline
restored nearly 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) to inspect the heat exchangers for similar issues,
of oil supply last month, after OPEC+ cuts were and now says it hopes that the work at Train 2
eased. It did so as 13 OPEC members brought can help those inspections – and any necessary
back a further 1mn bpd. repairs – to be more efficient.
The rise in deliveries has occurred at a time Separately, Royal Dutch Shell said on Sep-
when the recovery in global oil demand is tember 4 that it had begun restart procedures at
stalling. The summer driving season is ending, its Prelude FLNG facility and the gas fields off-
while the economic fallout from the pandemic shore Broome that supply feedstock to the vessel.
continues and some countries are re-imposing However, Shell is reported to have run into
lockdowns. Meanwhile, global stocks of crude challenges almost immediately. A source on
oil and refined products remain at a record high. board the vessel was quoted by news agencies as
While efforts by the OPEC+ group have saying the restart had some issues with “multi-
driven the market’s recovery so far, the easing ple trips” of the plant and two swivels inside the
of cuts now is bad news for other suppliers – turret that moors the giant LNG facility in place.
including Russia. And Shell is reported to have suspended gas
flows to Prelude as a precaution.
If you’d like to read more about the key events shaping There is now speculation that Prelude –
the former Soviet Union’s oil and gas sector then please which is thought to be one of the most complex
click here for NewsBase’s FSU Monitor . LNG facilities in the world – may not be back on
stream until 2021. The facility has been offline
GLNG: Restart troubles in Australia since February as a result of technical issues.
Attempts to restart liquefaction capacity that has
been offline in Australia – namely, the second If you’d like to read more about the key events shaping
production train at Gorgon LNG and the Prel- the global LNG sector then please click here for
ude floating LNG (FLNG) facility – are running NewsBase’s GLNG Monitor.

Week 35 03•September•2020 www. NEWSBASE .com P9