The Arctic LNG 2 project, despite severe international sanctions, is showing record levels of natural gas production. According to Bloomberg, citing informed sources, the facility reached a historic peak in output during the final days of June — averaging 14 million cubic meters per day on June 28 and 29. This indicates that cargo loading has likely resumed as Russia seeks ways to circumvent Western restrictions.
A source familiar with the matter, who requested anonymity because the data is not public, confirmed this is the highest daily output since the plant was launched in December 2023, when it produced an average of 13.7 million cubic meters per day. Although increased gas output doesn’t automatically mean higher LNG production, historical trends suggest that shipments typically coincide with elevated output.
Located above the Arctic Circle, the Arctic LNG 2 facility is a cornerstone of Russia’s strategy to triple LNG production by 2030. These ambitions were significantly undermined by sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine. Nevertheless, the recent arrival of a liquefied gas tanker near the site suggests Russia is actively exploring alternative logistics channels.
The tanker in question is the Iris (formerly North Sky), which has previously been sanctioned by the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom. Ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg shows that the vessel left the facility on Sunday, with its draft level — entered manually by the crew — increasing, which may indicate that a cargo was loaded. The tanker is now en route to the Arctic port of Murmansk, where it is expected to arrive on July 2.
Murmansk plays a key logistical role for Novatek, the largest shareholder and operator of Arctic LNG 2, where LNG is transferred from ice-class vessels to conventional tankers. The sanctioned Saam floating LNG storage facility, previously used for Arctic LNG 2 cargoes, is also located near Murmansk.
Throughout most of June, Arctic LNG 2 was producing an average of 8.9 million cubic meters of gas per day, compared to 9.4 million in May. The sharp rise at the end of the month may point to renewed export activity and a partial recovery of supply chains, despite ongoing pressure from Western governments.
Novatek did not respond to Bloomberg’s requests for comment.
According to Bloomberg analysts, continued operations at Arctic LNG 2 demonstrate that Western sanctions face limitations — particularly in the energy sector, where infrastructure, geography, and global demand often outweigh legal barriers.
Thus, despite external pressure, Russia continues to adapt its export mechanisms and maintains control over key elements of its energy strategy. Arctic LNG 2 remains a central pillar of this strategy, signaling that the country’s long-term LNG ambitions have not been derailed.
This article was prepared based on materials published by Bloomberg. The author does not claim authorship of the original text but presents their interpretation of the content for informational purposes.
The original article can be found at the following link: Bloomberg.
All rights to the original text belong to Bloomberg.
