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The sanctions have disrupted plans for the project’s third production line, with critical equipment returning to China instead of reaching its destination in Russia.
In March 2024, Chinese gas liquefaction equipment manufacturer Wison New Energies shipped two essential units to Russia for the Arctic LNG 2 project. However, ten months later, these units were unloaded at the Dongzao Gang port in northern Shanghai rather than the Novatek large-scale offshore construction center in Belokamyanka, Murmansk Region.
Data from transponders and satellite images revealed that the ship Wei Xiao Tian Shi, carrying the 12,000-ton rigs, initially set sail for Belokamyanka. However, the introduction of additional US sanctions in mid-2024 forced the vessel to change course off the UK coast in July, ultimately returning to China. For the past five months, the equipment has remained in Chinese waters.
The sanctions have left the Arctic LNG 2 project’s third stage in limbo, casting doubt on its full implementation.
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