Equinor has announced a further extension of the ongoing outage at its Hammerfest liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant in northern Norway. Originally scheduled for a one-week repair, the outage has now been prolonged by 10 days, with production expected to resume late in the evening on January 19.

The Hammerfest LNG plant, also known as Melkoeya LNG, is a significant contributor to Norway's gas exports, accounting for approximately 5% of the total. With a capacity to deliver roughly 6.5 billion cubic meters of gas annually, it can supply the equivalent of about 6.5 million European homes. The plant receives gas from the Snoehvit field in the Barents Sea, located approximately 143 km (89 miles) offshore.  

The initial outage, announced on January 2, was attributed to a malfunctioning compressor responsible for re-injecting captured CO2 back into the ground. While initial assessments suggested a relatively quick fix, the repair work has proven more complex than anticipated. A company spokesperson explained that the necessary repairs were more extensive than initially believed, requiring the delivery of new parts, which contributed to the delay.  

This prolonged shutdown comes at a sensitive time for European energy markets. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Norway became Europe's largest natural gas supplier, with most of the exports transported via an offshore pipeline network in the North Sea. The Hammerfest facility plays a vital role in this supply chain, and its continued unavailability could impact gas availability and prices in the region. 

The plant is owned by a consortium of companies, including Equinor, Petoro, TotalEnergies, Vaar Energi, and Harbour Energy. Equinor, as the operator, is responsible for managing the repairs and restoring production. The company continues to provide updates on the situation through the Gassco regulatory website.   

The outage at Hammerfest underscores the vulnerability of energy infrastructure and the potential for unexpected disruptions to affect global energy markets. While Norway's extensive pipeline network provides a stable supply route, the Hammerfest plant's contribution to LNG exports remains significant, particularly for countries reliant on LNG imports.  

About Equinor:

Equinor is a leading international energy company with a strong focus on oil, gas, and renewable energy. Headquartered in Stavanger, Norway, the company operates in over 30 countries worldwide. Formerly known as Statoil, Equinor changed its name in 2018 to reflect its broader commitment to sustainable energy solutions. The company is a major player in the North Sea and a significant contributor to global energy markets. Equinor is committed to developing new energy solutions and reducing its carbon footprint through investments in renewable energy and carbon capture technologies.