BANGALORE, February 6. /TASS/. Novatek maintains the Arctic LNG-2 commissioning period, with the first stage to be commissioned in late 2023, the second stage - in 2024, and the third stage - in 2026, the company’s CEO Leonid Mikhelson told reporters on Monday.

"When we made the investment decision, we [planned] the first stage at the end of 2023, the second stage - in 2024, and the third stage - in 2026. We maintain those plans as of today," he said.

The second and third lines of Arctic LNG-2 are fully provided with turbines for power generation, Mikhelson added.

It was reported in November that Russia might start deliveries of liquefied natural gas to Japan from the Arctic LNG-2 project in 2023, with supplies potentially reaching 2 mln tonnes per year in the future.

Arctic LNG-2 is Novatek's second LNG project. It includes the construction of three lines for the production of liquefied natural gas with a capacity of 6.6 mln metric tons per year each and stable gas condensate up to 1.6 mln metric tons per year. The launch of the first line is planned for December 2023, the launch of the second and third lines is expected in 2024 and 2026, respectively.

Novatek has completed roughly 70% of the construction of the Arctic LNG-2 natural gas liquefaction plant, which will be put into operation as scheduled, Novatek CEO said earlier.