Norway is already Britain’s biggest external gas supplier by pipeline. Snøhvit in the Barents Sea was intended to diversify Norway’s gas sales by supplying the United States and other markets that could not feasibly be reached by pipeline. Demand for the super-chilled gas has cooled since late last year because of the global economic slowdown and Britain is seen as a likely destination for some excess cargoes in the short term. Britain has the only liquid gas market in Europe. “Arctic Discoverer” left Hammerfest on April 6, and is expected to reach Isle of Grain on April 10, Reuters reports. Another StatoilHydro tanker, the “Arctic Princess” is on its way with LNG from Hammerfest to Cove Point, USA.
