Russia Plans Major LNG Export Increase to China Amid Western Sanctions

Russia is actively expanding its liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to China, focusing notably on the Arctic LNG 2 and Sakhalin 2 projects despite Western sanctions. Arctic LNG 2, primarily owned by Russia's Novatek, continues to deliver LNG to strategic terminals including China's Beihai facility, underscoring significant progress in energy cooperation between Russia, China, and India. Greenpeace reports that Russia's LNG exports, particularly from Yamal LNG, have generated billions in revenue even amidst sanctions, with major European companies like TotalEnergies, SEFE, and Naturgy among the largest buyers. Despite the European Union's plans to ban Russian LNG imports by 2027, market analysts suggest that Russian LNG shipments to Asia may increase due to exemptions and challenges in enforcing sanctions fully. The continuation of sanctioned Russian LNG tankers navigating routes to Asian terminals reflects resilience in Russia's LNG supply chain amid geopolitical tensions. Overall, Russia aims to strengthen its energy ties in Asia while working to boost oil production and domestic energy capacity amid evolving international sanctions.