Revived Russian Arctic LNG Facility Resumes Gas Flaring After Extended Hiatus

By Stephen Stapczynski (Bloomberg) — Recent satellite imagery suggests that Russia’s Arctic liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility may be flaring fuel, hinting at a potential revival of operations that have been largely inactive since last October. Photos from the European Sentinel 2 satellite captured evidence of gas flaring at the Arctic LNG 2 site on March 30, while an earlier image from March 22 showed no signs of activity.It’s crucial to note that flaring doesn’t necessarily mean full-scale production has resumed; it could simply indicate maintainance work. However, there are indications that the Arctic LNG 2 project is preparing for a possible easing of U.S. sanctions. In February, Novatek PJSC—the project’s main stakeholder—encouraged Indian buyers to take advantage of discounted shipments before any changes in restrictions by Washington.

Throughout February, images revealed minor flaring activity, suggesting some LNG production might have occurred. Yet recent visuals show the surrounding waters remain frozen, complicating customary shipping routes for exporting fuel. The vessels typically used to bypass restrictions on Arctic LNG 2 aren’t equipped for navigating through thick ice and usually operate during warmer months when conditions are more favorable.

The facility halted large-scale production last year due to sanctions imposed by the U.S.,wich deterred international buyers and led to ice accumulation making access difficult for ships.

In another progress, ship-tracking data indicates that East Energy—a vessel previously involved in transporting fuel from Arctic LNG 2—is approaching Shanghai.If this sanctioned tanker successfully docks in China,it would mark a significant moment as it would be the first instance of one of Russia’s dark fleet tankers from this project reaching a foreign port.

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