Equinor Extends Hammerfest LNG Outage Due to Compressor Issues

Core Insights - Equinor ASA has announced a 10-day extension to the outage at its Hammerfest LNG facility due to complex repairs on a failed compressor, with operations expected to resume late on January 19 [1][3] - The Hammerfest LNG plant is vital for Norway's gas exports, contributing approximately 6.5 billion cubic meters of gas annually, enough to supply about 6.5 million European homes and accounting for nearly 5% of Norway's total gas exports [2] - The outage highlights the challenges of maintaining critical infrastructure under extreme Arctic conditions, especially during winter when gas demand peaks across Europe [6] Company Overview - The Hammerfest LNG facility, also known as Melkoeya LNG, processes gas from the Snoehvit field in the Barents Sea, located about 143 kilometers offshore [4] - Equinor owns the facility alongside partners Petoro, TotalEnergies, Vaar Energi, and Harbour Energy [4] - Norway's role as Europe's largest natural gas supplier has become more significant since the Ukraine crisis disrupted Russian gas supplies, with Hammerfest LNG being Europe's largest liquefied natural gas export facility [5] Industry Context - The outage at Hammerfest LNG underscores the importance of timely resumption of operations, particularly during peak winter demand in Europe [6] - Norway exports most of its gas via offshore pipelines in the North Sea, reinforcing its pivotal role in Europe's energy security [5]