The Arctic navigation window has increased but is still not year-round
Winter LNG transit highlights Arctic’s growing role
Russia is leading the charge to normalise Arctic shipping as the region warms
Arctic waters are becoming increasingly navigable as a result of climate change, and Russia is leading the way in attempting to normalise shipping in high latitude regions. To the west, Canada and the US are already in disagreement over the status of the Northwest Passage. But shipping in the Arctic still poses significant challenges and is likely to remain mostly confined to Russian LNG shipments for now. The Northern Sea Route (NSR) along Russia’s Arctic coast cuts the voyage from Europe to Asia “by more than a third”, according to Russian deputy prime minister Yury Trutnev. A total of 33mn t of cargo, including 18mn t of LNG, was transported via the route in 2020, a fivefold increase in f
Also in this section
18 February 2026
With Texas LNG approaching financial close, Alaska LNG advancing towards a phased buildout and Magnolia LNG positioned for future optionality, Glenfarne CEO Brendan Duval says the coming year will demonstrate how the company’s more focused, owner-operator approach is reshaping LNG infrastructure development in the North America
18 February 2026
The global gas industry is no longer on the backfoot, hesitantly justifying the value of its product, but has greater confidence in gas remaining a core part of the global energy mix for decades
18 February 2026
With marketable supply unlikely to grow significantly and limited scope for pipeline imports, Brazil is expected to continue relying on LNG to cover supply shortfalls, Ieda Gomes, senior adviser of Brazilian thinktank FGV Energia,
tells Petroleum Economist
17 February 2026
The 25th WPC Energy Congress, taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 26–30 April 2026, will bring together leaders from the political, industrial, financial and technology sectors under the unifying theme “Pathways to an Energy Future for All”
