# Russian-Linked LNG Project in Alaska Raises National Security Concerns A UAE-backed energy venture reveals deep ties to sanctioned Russian giant Novatek. - **Source:** [ProPublica](https://www.propublica.org) - **Published:** 2026-11-10 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/c7759256-c7b7-406a-8551-294697e5dba5 ## Suspicious Arctic Energy Venture A project ostensibly led by a UAE-based firm to develop natural gas in Alaska has come under intense scrutiny. While marketed as an American energy initiative, investigations reveal the venture is steered by Novatek, a sanctioned Russian gas giant. The project involves mapping sensitive seabed areas near critical U.S. military infrastructure. ## Strategic Location and Risks Survey work occurred near the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System and an Air Force radar station. The Beaufort Sea region is a frequent site for U.S. nuclear submarine operations. Experts warn that detailed environmental and seabed data collected here could provide Russia with significant military advantages in the unpredictable and strategically vital Arctic. ## The Novatek Connection Revealed Metadata in a U.S. Treasury waiver application identified a Novatek legal executive as the document's author. Although the project claims to be an independent effort, internal documents and interviews confirm the Russian company’s influence. Novatek denies gathering intelligence, asserting its involvement is limited to providing technical equipment and expertise for the project. ## CEO Resignation and Allegations Joel Riddle, the former CEO of the U.S. subsidiary Polar Train LNG, resigned in September 2026. He publicly questioned the project's legality and alleged it served as a Russian ploy to gain control over strategic American assets. The company subsequently terminated him, claiming he intended to launch a competing business venture. ## Sanctioned Equipment Transfer Plans The project sought a U.S. Treasury waiver to import a partially built LNG plant from a Russian shipyard. This equipment was originally intended for Arctic LNG 2, a project stalled by sanctions. Proponents argued this would boost U.S. energy dominance, while critics fear it facilitates the transfer of Russian technology and influence. ## Intelligence and Sovereignty Concerns Former officials and Arctic security experts describe the project as a direct challenge to U.S. sovereignty. They argue that scientific data collected in such sensitive areas is inherently dual-use, serving both civilian and military purposes. The failure to detect or block these surveys is being characterized by some as a significant intelligence failure. ## Shifting Political Landscape The project gained momentum amid a broader political context involving high-level discussions between U.S. and Russian officials. President Putin has publicly expressed interest in Arctic cooperation with the U.S. through Novatek. These developments coincide with a reduction in U.S. counterintelligence staffing and the disbanding of specific Russian asset-seizing task forces. ## Corporate Structure and Ownership Polar Train LNG is a subsidiary of the UAE-based Tech Wave, which is 95% owned by Bjorn Gundersen. Gundersen, a former deputy director at Novatek, played a key role in developing Russian Arctic projects. Despite claims of American ownership, the project relies heavily on Russian technology, financing, and former Russian industry executives. ## Survey Operations and Methodology During 2025 and 2026, contractors utilized three vessels to conduct sonar scans and drill core samples in the Beaufort Sea. These operations were designed to assess the seabed for an LNG facility. The project faced internal disagreements regarding site selection, with the UAE parent overriding local leadership's concerns about dredging costs. ## Official Responses and Denials Novatek categorically denies that the project is a front for intelligence gathering, labeling such claims as false. The company maintains that all activities were standard surveys conducted in compliance with applicable laws. Polar Train LNG also asserts that its research was routine and aimed solely at finding a viable site for production. ## Impact of Reduced Oversight Analysts note that the current administrative environment makes counterintelligence more difficult. Reduced staffing and the scaling back of rules requiring disclosure of true company owners create gaps in oversight. Experts emphasize that monitoring such projects requires deep technical knowledge, which is currently lacking due to recent policy and staffing shifts. ## Future Implications for Arctic The controversy highlights the growing tension between energy development and national security in the Arctic. As Russia seeks to leverage its technological expertise to enter the U.S. market, the risk of intelligence exploitation remains high. Policymakers must now weigh the potential for energy production against the long-term security threats posed by foreign-controlled infrastructure. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.propublica.org/article/alaska-prudhoe-lng-polar-novatek — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._