India Refuses to Buy LNG From Sanctioned Russian Arctic LNG 2 Project, Oil Secretary says

India will not purchase liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 project, which is under Western sanctions, said Indian Oil Secretary Pankaj Jain, Reuters reported on September 27.

“We will not buy LNG from Arctic LNG 2. We are not purchasing any sanctioned commodity. If there are broad-based sanctions, we won’t engage with it,” Jain told Reuters reporters.

The Arctic LNG 2 project, led by Russia’s Novatek, has been targeted by Western sanctions in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Additionally, the United States imposed sanctions on hundreds of entities and individuals involved in supporting of Russia’s war waging, including companies linked to the development and shipment of LNG from Arctic LNG 2.

In response to media reports, Novatek denied any involvement in creating or managing a “shadow fleet” for the Arctic LNG 2 project, calling the allegations untrue.

Earlier, UK sanctioned 5 vessels and 2 entities linked to Russia’s “shadow fleet”.