The U.S. Treasury Department has targeted sanctions against more Russian-linked LNG vessels and companies days after satellite images and ship tracking data indicated PAO Novatek could be amassing a shadow fleet to export cargoes from its Arctic LNG 2 project.
Production at the 19.8 million metric tons/year facility began earlier in the year as a part of Novatek’s plans to boost Russian export capacity and gas production in the region. However, a ramp up of operations and first shipments was delayed due to a lack of icebreaker ships to deliver cargoes from Arctic LNG 2.
That is until the end of July, when Kpler data and imaging indicated a flaring tower had reactivated. A few days later, satellite images spotted two liquefied natural gas carriers identified as Pioneer and Asya Energy appearing to load at the terminal in the Arctic Circle.
