TotalEnergies to protect Arctic LNG 2 biodiversity

French energy major TotalEnergies has published the biodiversity implementation strategy of the Russian Arctic LNG 2 project.

As a major player in the energy transition, TotalEnergies puts sustainable development at the heart of its projects and operations.

The company thus published the environmental, safety, and health Impact assessment (ESHIA) and the biodiversity implementation strategy of the project.

TotalEnergies holds a direct and indirect1 21.64 per cent stake in the Novatek-led Arctic LNG 2.

Based on the ESHIA, Arctic LNG 2 has defined a set of actions to minimize the environmental footprint and to also deliver a positive impact on biodiversity. In addition, third-party organizations will monitor these measures. These are specifically all of the international credit agencies that will be contributing to the project.

The biodiversity protection strategy will be based on several plans and programs. Meanwhile, TotalEnergies will publish these plans and programs after they get approval.

Patrick Pouyanné, chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, said: “The development of the LNG projects in which we are participating in Northern Russia generates legitimately high expectations in terms of protection of the environment and biodiversity… With our partners, we are mobilizing significant resources to ensure that these projects are implemented and operated in an exemplary manner.”

Currently under construction, the project consists of three LNG trains of 6.6 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) capacity each. The trains will be on gravity-based structures (GBS) in order to reduce the environmental footprint.

TotalEnergies holds a ten per cent direct interest in the project. This is alongside Novatek (60 per cent), in which TotalEnergies has a 19.4 per cent stake. The rest of the stakeholders include CNOOC with 10 per cent, CNPC with ten per cent, and a Mitsui-Jogmec consortium, with also ten per cent.

The first train will start delivery of LNG to international markets in 2023.