Chinese vessels race to Arctic to salvage russian LNG project
By
Elías Thorsson
-
October 3, 2024
8
In a high-stakes maneuver to rescue Russia’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, Novatek’s Arctic LNG 2, Chinese cargo vessels are racing to the Arctic carrying crucial equipment, reports High North News. The shipment faces a race against both winter sea ice and Western sanctions. The secretive and risky mission could determine the fate of one of Russia’s key energy ventures and highlights Beijing’s delicate balancing act between economic cooperation with Russia and avoiding Western sanctions.
- A fleet of Chinese cargo vessels is transporting a power plant assembled by Wison New Energies for Novatek’s Arctic LNG 2 project.
- The delivery must be completed before the Arctic route becomes impassable due to winter sea ice.
- The operation involves elaborate steps to avoid Western sanctions, including transshipments at Chinese ports, vessel renaming, and other deceptive tactics.
- The U.S. has been vigilant in preventing the expansion of Russia’s LNG capabilities, and further actions against those involved seem likely.
