Dec 22 Reuters China39;s state oil majors CNPC and CNOOC have both asked the U.S. government for exemptions from sanctions on a new Russian liquefied natural gas LNG export plant, a Beijingbased industry official with direct knowledge of the matter said.

CNOOC Ltd and China National Petroleum Corp CNPC each have a 10 stake in the Arctic LNG 2 project controlled by Novatek, Russia39;s largest LNG producer, which holds a 60 stake in the project.

This is a standard response as an equity partner communicating with OFAC to protect our interest in the project, said the source, who declined to be named as the matter remained confidential.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control OFAC, under the U.S. Department of the Treasury, has yet to respond, the source added.

Bloomberg News had earlier reported that the Chinese firms were preparing to ask for the exemption.

Last month, the U.S. imposed sweeping new measures against Russia over the war in Ukraine, including sanctions targeting a major entity involved in the development, operation and ownership of the Arctic2 LNG project in Siberia.

LNG vessels could fall foul of U.S. sanctions if they pick up fuel from Arctic LNG 2, the Bloomberg report said, adding that CNOOC and CNPC also purchase LNG from the United States, and don39;t want to endanger their supply from American projects.

CNOOC, CNPC and Novatek did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

Reuters reported on Wednesday that Novatek had sent force…