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Russia’s sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 project is set to receive two more domestically built Arc7 ice-class LNG carriers in 2026, further expanding its export capacity, UATV English reports.
Russian Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov told lawmakers that the lead Arc7 vessel — originally designed by a foreign company — was delivered last year, while two additional ships are expected to be completed this year.
The first Russian-built Arc7 LNG carrier, “Aleksey Kosygin,” was completed in late 2025 and began exporting fuel from Arctic LNG 2 last month.
Additional Arc7 tankers are expected to boost production and exports from the facility, which has faced winter shipping challenges because standard vessels cannot navigate ice-covered waters.
Arc7 vessels can break through ice up to two meters thick and, depending on conditions, sail parts of Russia’s Arctic Northern Sea Route without icebreaker assistance, reducing transportation costs. Before “Aleksey Kosygin” entered service, Arctic LNG 2 operated only one Arc7 tanker — “Christophe de Margerie.”
Through the Novatek-led Arctic LNG 2 project, Russia aims to triple LNG production to 100 million tons annually. However, Western sanctions imposed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have delayed those plans.
Earlier, the first cargo of LNG from the sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 plant was unloaded at China’s Beihai LNG terminal on January 26.
