Russian energy giants face contagion risk
Constrained by sanctions, firms are tied to the fortunes of domestic banks
Russia's leading energy companies are at risk from a growing crisis in the nation's banking sector, which has led to the rescue of three of the top five privately-owned financial institutions in the past five months. Russneft and Lukoil, two privately-owned oil companies, have direct equity exposure to banks that have been rescued by the state, while Kremlin-controlled Rosneft has given another lender in peril the responsibility of refinancing its massive debt pile. Russia's banking system is creaking as the economy threatens to return to recession, a year after emerging from its longest contraction in two decades. In January, analysts at JP Morgan said Russia, the world's biggest energy exp
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”






