IEA: Russia boosts LNG exports despite sanctions

Russia increased its liquefied natural gas exports to global markets by more than 1 billion cubic meters over the past winter, supported by rising shipments from the Arctic LNG 2 project to China, according to a report by the International Energy Agency, cited by Russian media.

“Russia also increased supplies by more than 1 billion cubic meters compared with the same period a year earlier, as more volumes from Arctic LNG 2 reached the market through deliveries to China, despite the project remaining under Western sanctions,” the report said.

Although the Arctic LNG 2 project has not yet been officially launched, exports of individual cargoes to China have been reported from its first production line.

Russia currently operates two major large-scale LNG plants — Yamal LNG and Sakhalin-2 — while also running two mid-scale facilities in the Baltic region: Gazprom LNG Portovaya and Kryogaz Vysotsk. Both Baltic plants have been placed under sanctions by the US Treasury.

By Tamilla Hasanova