Russ Oil-Gas

RBC, 18.02.2009, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk 16:57:23 - Gazprom has confirmed that liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments from the Sakhalin-2 fields will start in March 2009, Gazprom's Deputy CEO Alexander Medvedev told a press conference today summing up the results of the liquefied gas plant's launch. Medvedev could not provide any exact timeframe for the LNG plant to break even, as he was bound by the confidentiality agreement. However, he noted that the LNG project was among those with "favorable pay-back periods." As reported earlier, the initial plan was to start LNG supplies from the Sakhalin plant in February 2009. Later on, however, the Energy Ministry said that the first shipment, which would be routed to a Japanese consumer, was postponed until March 2009.