Exclusive: Senior Novatek Official Traveled to Washington DC For Discussions on Arctic LNG Sanctions
Vladimir Putin at Belokamenka
Could the upcoming Trump U.S. administration offer an opportunity to reverse or lighten sanctions targeting the Russian LNG sector? Novatek appears to think so, dispatching a senior executive to Washington DC to pursue the matter.
(Updated to add comments)
Embattled Russian liquefied natural gas producer Novatek may be looking for a change in U.S. sanctions policy with the upcoming Trump administration.
Several sources confirmed to HNN that a senior Novatek executive visited Washington DC last week for discussions on the matter.
"We are aware of Novatek officials coming to D.C. […] Now is not the time for business as usual with Russia. Russia is in the penalty box and it’s my job to ensure it stays there as long as possible, certainly as long as the illegal war continues,” asserted Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Geoffrey Pyatt in comments made to HNN.
Novatek’s operations face an expanding regime of sanctions targeting the flagship Arctic LNG 2 project, its Belokamenka assembly yard, suppliers in China and a growing fleet of shadow fleet LNG carriers.
Pyatt reiterated the U.S.’ goal to drive down revenue Russia derives from energy resources and to kill projects aimed at expanding revenue in the future, including Arctic LNG 2.
He highlighted that Putin has weaponized Russia’s energy resources and can never again be trusted as a reliable energy supplier. Russia's war of aggression, including on civilian energy infrastructure is largely funded by revenue from the oil and gas sector, he continued.
Pyatt also highlighted that the U.S. is a key energy provider. “We remain firmly committed to helping partners diversify their energy suppliers, routes, and fuel types to eliminate dependencies on Russian energy supplies of all types.”
It remains unconfirmed which senior executive traveled to DC or with whom they met. Several members of the company’s board have been sanctioned by the U.S., including Chairman of the Management Board Leonid Mikhelson and Chairman of the Board Alexander Natalenko, restricting their ability to travel to the U.S.
Previous DC lobbying activity
In the past Novatek had retained services of global advisory and strategic communications firm Qorvis, with offices in Washington, DC, Dubai and Geneva. The firm did not respond to requests for comment if it was still or again working with Novatek. Records show Qorvis receiving payments of $1.2m from Novatek or its subsidiaries between 2014-2017. Public strategy firm Mercury also counted Novatek among its clients in 2017 for the amount of $130,000.
In 2023 Novatek’s subsidiary Arctic LNG 2 is listed as spending $300,000 on lobbying in the U.S. The figures for 2024 are not yet available.