Novatek dilutes sanctions: LNG flow will go past Europe

Expectations that Arctic LNG —2 will suspend shipments due to the closure of the navigation season on the Northern Sea Route do not meet expectations. The second tanker with a batch of LNG from the Arctic sanctions project went past Europe to China. Four more gas carriers are returning to Gydan to take fresh liquefied gas.

According to AIS vessels, the Arctic Metagaz tanker is carrying the second batch of LNG from Arctic LNG — 2 to China past Europe. After the closure of navigation on the Northern Sea Route, the Zarya gas carrier took a detour route, which has already passed Singapore towards the Chinese Beihai terminal, where they accept sanctioned LNG from Russia.

Arctic Metagaz set off a few weeks later and today passed by Portugal in the Atlantic Ocean.

Obviously, supplies will continue in an alternative way. So, three more gas carriers are returning back to Arctic LNG —2. Voskhod passed the Suez Canal on December 8, Arctic Pioneer was approaching the Red Sea, and Arctic Vostok was passing by India.

The second Arctic project began to be launched back in December 2023, but the United States imposed sanctions and shipments to end-users, to China, began only in August of this year. The parties go to the Beihai terminal. In total, 17 batches have already been delivered there — 1.5−1.6 billion cubic meters of gas.

At the same time, the eastern direction of the supply of sanctioned LNG to China continues to work. Several gas carriers continue to take LNG from the Karyak storage facility in Kamchatka. And the only tanker servicing the project and having an arch7 ice class took a return course through the Northern Sea Route. "Christophe de Margerie can join other tankers and will also start delivering liquefied gas through Europe.

As reported by EADaily, Arctic LNG — 2 should become the most powerful LNG project in the Russia — 19.8 million tons of LNG (27 billion cubic meters) per year. In December 2023, the first stage was launched on it. And in this — the second. The launch date of the third is unknown. In the US, they said they were going to kill the project.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that sanctions create problems, but Russia will bypass them. The government of the country plans that by 2030 LNG exports will almost triple to 100 million tons.