Sept 23 (Reuters) - Russian natural gas company Novatek

has suspended work on the development of the Murmansk

and Ob liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects due to pressure from

western sanctions, the Kommersant newspaper reported on Monday.

"Due to the pressure of sanctions, the leader of the Russian

LNG market, Novatek, is looking for alternative options for

monetizing its gas reserves and revising promising export

projects," Kommersant reported, citing sources familiar with the

company's plans.

According to Kommersant's sources, no active work is

underway on either of the large-tonnage Murmansk LNG and Ob LNG

projects.

Construction for the Murmansk LNG project in Russia's

Arctic, on the shore of the Kola Bay near Murmansk and the

village of Belokamenka, was scheduled for 2027-2030.

The Ob LNG plant, adjacent to Yamal LNG on the Yamal

Peninsula, in the north of Russia, is to have a capacity of 6

million tons, Kommersant reported.

In June, the European Union banned new investments, as well

as the provision of goods, technologies and services necessary

to complete the construction the LNG projects.