Ukrainian drones shut down major Russian plant for months

One of the three units at the plant, which processes natural gas condensate (SGK), sustained significant damage - and its restoration could take up to six months, Reuters reports

The second unit suffered less damage, and its repair is likely to last several weeks. The third unit of the complex, which Novatek commissioned at the end of August 2024, as well as the hydrocracking unit, were not damaged and will likely resume operations in the coming days.

A fire broke out at the Novatek complex on August 24 after an attack by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), condensate processing and an oil spill at the company's terminal were stopped.

Novatek may reduce export shipments of products by about 300 thousand tons in September.

In 2025, Novatek exported an average of about 420 thousand tons of oil per month, mainly to Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and China.

Novatek launched a complex for fractionation and transshipment of stable gas condensate (SGC) in the port of Ust-Luga in 2023. At that time, the complex had two SGC processing units with a nominal capacity of 3 million tons per year each. At the end of August 2024, the company commissioned a third SGC processing unit of similar capacity.

The condensate at the complex is processed into light and heavy oil, kerosene, diesel fraction and fuel oil, finished products are shipped for export by sea transport.

Photo: rossmi.