Razom We Stand today warned that media reports of Russian funding for a proposed Alaska gas export project show how energy deals with Moscow are putting American resources and Russia sanctions at risk.
As reported by The New York Times, the former chief executive of Polar LNG, a start-up planning to export North Slope gas, says the company received funding from Novatek, a Russian gas company under partial US sanctions. Polar LNG disputes his account. Novatek told the Times it is moving to become a minority shareholder in the project. According to people familiar with the negotiations, Vladimir Putin discussed the plan with US envoys in September. The Times found no indication the envoys knew of the company’s reported ties to Novatek.
The reports come as Russian diesel heads to the United States. The first tanker under a new US-Russia arrangement is due in New York on November 7, according to ship-tracking firm Kpler. It carries about 300,000 barrels, less than a tenth of one day’s US diesel use, according to EIA figures reported by the Washington Times. The Treasury has issued a license allowing Russian diesel imports until April 2027. As reported by Bloomberg, the administration has also invoked a waiver clause to set aside tariffs and sanctions in a new law that specifically targets Novatek. Seven senators, four Republicans and three Democrats, have urged the administration to reverse course.
“Russia’s gas giants should not get a foothold in Alaska’s Arctic. They should face the full force of the sanctions Congress passed,” said Dr. Svitlana Romanko, founder and executive director of Razom We Stand.
Romanko added, “Russian diesel won’t lower prices for American families, and every energy deal offered to Moscow during peace talks rewards the Kremlin for its war. Stopping these Russia-friendly policies will take political change in Washington. Lawmakers of both parties and the administration need to change course and put sanctions and Ukraine’s security ahead of deals with the Kremlin. And Alaskans deserve to know who is really behind projects to develop their gas.”
Razom We Stand calls for:
- No license: Treasury should not license Novatek equipment or any Novatek stake in a US project.
- Full sanctions: The diesel license and the waiver should end, and the new sanctions law should be enforced in full.
- Talks: Energy deals should be kept out of talks on ending the war in Ukraine.
- Investigation: Congress should investigate the reported Russian financing of Polar LNG.
