Reuters cited Mr Ivan Chernyakhovsky spokesman of Russia Sakhalin Energy liquefied natural gas group one of the world largest a saying that the company has halved its LNG output until end November due to planned maintenance.

Mr Ivan Chernyakhovsky said "The maintenance started on Oct 23 and will last around one month. We have only one LNG train working right now."

He said the group, controlled by Russian gas export monopoly Gazprom and comprising Royal Dutch Shell and Japan Mitsui and Mitsubishi has already exceeded its 2009 LNG output target.

He added that "We have already loaded 60 cargoes instead of planned 55 Sakhalin Energy also known as Sakhalin-2, supplies LNG to Japan, South Korea and the United States.”

(Sourced from Reuters)