Image credit: Press Service of the Border Directorate of the FSB.
Russia is taking extraordinary measures to protect its flagship Arctic LNG 2 project. Following a series of attacks on its energy infrastructure by Ukraine, the military and Federal Security Service (FSB) are closely monitoring the project’s progress.
On July 25th, Novatek, Russia’s leading LNG exporter, floated the second massive floating LNG production facility from a shipyard near Murmansk. This colossal structure, rivaling Shell’s Prelude FLNG in size and weight, is being escorted by at least two FSB patrol vessels and aircraft on its 1,300 nautical mile journey to the Arctic. Unlike the highly publicized launch of the first production line, the movement of the second has been shrouded in secrecy.
The FSB has acknowledged the heightened security risk, implementing anti-terrorist measures to protect the facility during its vulnerable initial stages. Given the success of Ukrainian naval drone attacks on Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, the journey through the Kola Bay and Kola Peninsula is considered particularly dangerous.
Novatek’s energy infrastructure has already been targeted. Its Ust-Luga export terminal suffered a drone attack earlier this year, and long-range drone strikes have hit refineries and fuel depots across Russia. While the Arctic’s remote location will eventually shield Arctic LNG 2 from such attacks, the immediate risks are substantial.
The project’s completion is crucial for Russia to maintain its position as a major LNG exporter. However, the challenges posed by the ongoing conflict and the need for heightened security underscore the complexities of operating in the region.