Russian "shadow vessels" commence their arrival in China.

The Russian LNG carrier "Vostok" has arrived in China, marking the delivery of the second cargo from the sanctioned Arctic LNG project. This follows the first cargo, delivered by the Arctic Mulan tanker at the end of August.

The "Vostok," carrying 150,000 cubic meters of LNG, is anchored near an LNG terminal in the port of Tengzhou, Guizhou province, China. The vessel was loaded at the Arctic LNG 2 plant in Gydan, northern Siberia, on July 19.

The owner and majority shareholder of the Arctic LNG 2 project is the Russian company Novatek, which operates the terminal and attempts to find buyers in Asia despite Western sanctions. The project, a potential large LNG plant in Russia with a target capacity of 19.8 million tons per year, is facing uncertain prospects due to these sanctions.

The project's gas supplies are behind schedule due to a shortage of ice-class gas carriers and Western sanctions. This delay is evident as two more Russian gas tankers are moored on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia's Far East. Additionally, a third Russian gas tanker is located in the South China Sea between Taiwan and Hainan Island.

The Arctic LNG 2 project began production in December 2023. The first and second cargos from the project were delivered to China by the Arctic Mulan tanker and the Vostok, both under sanctions, as stated earlier. The precise locations of these tankers are not specified.

Despite the challenges, Novatek continues to navigate the complex geopolitical landscape, underscoring the resilience of the Russian energy sector in the face of adversity. As the situation evolves, the future of Arctic LNG 2 and its role in the global LNG market remains a topic of interest and discussion.