DIVERSIFICATION OF NATURAL GAS SUPPLY CHANNELS IN THE ARCTIC ZONE OF RUSSIA: METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH AND PROSPECTIVE MARKETS

The article analyzes the supply channels for natural gas from the Russian Arctic Zone, which accounts for over half of the country's gas resource potential. Under the pressure of sanctions and the EU's refusal to import Russian natural gas, the Russian gas business faces the objective necessity of finding alternative markets and methods for resource monetization. The aim of this study is to develop a methodological approach for selecting strategic alternatives. The research methodology is based on a systems approach, employing SWOT and PESTEL analyses of external environmental factors, as well as multi-criteria assessment of supply options. These options include pipeline exports, the production and export of liquefied natural gas (LNG), gas chemical products (methanol, ammonia), and an innovative direction – bio-protein. The findings indicate that the domestic Russian market is stable at approximately 500 billion cubic meters per year, while the primary growth in demand is expected in the Asia-Pacific region. The most promising directions are identified as LNG and gas chemical supplies, which possess high resilience and long-term potential, whereas pipeline routes have lost their priority status. Bio-protein is considered a supplementary element of a portfolio strategy. The approbation of the methodology using the case of the southern Yamal Peninsula confirmed its applicability and revealed the advantage of a gas chemical project in terms of sanctions resilience and logistical stability criteria. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the development of a methodological approach for selecting strategic alternatives, which involves the formation of a system of market and non-market factors, a method for integrated rating, and the consideration of the geographical zoning of infrastructure projects. The practical significance of the results is the potential application of the proposed approach by major gas production companies when formulating corporate strategies and adjusting Arctic development programs.