Russia Expands LNG Fleet Despite Sanctions
Russia's Novatek and its partners are expanding their fleet of liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers to service the Arctic LNG 2 project, despite international sanctions. The project has been under sanctions since 2023, but shipments have reached a record level due to shrinking sea ice.
According to The Barents Observer, at least 31 cargoes totalling 2.3 million metric tons of LNG have been shipped from Arctic LNG 2 to the Chinese port of Beihai since the start of 2026. The vessels involved in these shipments include Voskhod, Arctic Pioneer, and Zarya.
The Arctic LNG 2 project has seen significant growth despite sanctions, with at least 18 LNG carriers currently involved in the shipments. Novatek and its partners are continuing to ramp up production and exports, including the launch of new vessels such as Aleksey Kosygin and Konstantin Posiet.
The EU's full ban on Russian LNG is planned for January 1, 2027, which is expected to further increase Russian Arctic LNG shipments to China. The restrictions will also affect Yamal LNG, but it is not currently under sanctions.