Russia's Sanctioned LNG Opens Route to India: First Vessel En Route
According to sources and data from the international shipping tracking system LSEG, a shipment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia’s Baltic-based “Portovaya” LNG plant—subject to U.S. sanctions—is en route to India.
The vessel "Kunpeng" is carrying LNG heading toward the Dahej receiving terminal on India’s western coast. If this delivery is confirmed, it will become the first publicly verified case of sanctioned Russian LNG being supplied to India.
No prior public records exist of such deliveries to India: after intensified sanctions in 2025, exports from the Portovaya plant have been restricted to point-to-point, targeted transfers, including shipments to China (Beihai port) and within Russia itself.
The Portovaya plant has an annual capacity of approximately 1.5 million tons of LNG and began operations in 2022. The additional U.S. sanctions imposed in 2025 aim to restrict its exports and reduce Russia’s LNG trade revenues.
Industry observers note that if this delivery is confirmed, amid global energy realignment and rising risks in the Middle East, India will emerge alongside China as a new market for Russian natural gas.
Meanwhile, Russia, India, and China are progressively shifting toward settlement in their respective national currencies. U.S. Secretary of State Rubio previously acknowledged this trend, stating frankly: “We will fundamentally be unable to enforce sanctions.”
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1862577276247116/
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