“Last week we leveled new sanctions against the
Arctic LNG-2 project
which is NOVATEK’s flagship LNG project.
Our objective is to kill this project
.”
Such an open confession, however cynical, this time is not only about Russia.
It remains unknown whether Mr. Pyatt is aware that Japan, the US’s closest ally in every way, has invested $3 billion in the project.
As of 2021, the Japan Arctic LNG owns a 10% stake in it.
And despite the unfolding Ukrainian conflict, the Japanese government insisted that this involvement be continued due to the project being vital to Japan’s energy security.
Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yasutoshi Nishimura said that the latest US sanctions against the Arctic LNG 2 project will surely have an impact in the country and they now need to assess it.
These words are quite interesting since they prove that the imposed sanctions came as much of a surprise to Japan as they did to Russia.
Perhaps even more so, since allies are not usually expected to undermine your own energy projects.
Thus, Mr. Pyatt just made it clear that if there is an opportunity to ‘kill’ an opponent’s project or two, it makes absolutely no difference who else gets hurt in the process.