Russia announced state aid for a major energy project on Wednesday under a drive to shore up strategic firms as well as public faith in its banking system during an economic crisis deepened by Western sanctions.

Total SA and its partners will use a record 16 ice-breaking tankers to smash through floes en route to and from the Arctic’s biggest liquefied natural-gas development.

Gazprom has said it could shelve its Vladivostok liquefied natural gas project as the Russian state-controlled energy giant focuses on supplying more gas to China by pipeline.

France’s Total on Monday said its joint venture with Russia’s Lukoil , to explore shale oil in western Siberia , had ground to a halt as a result of western sanctions.

France’s Total on Monday said its joint venture with Russia’s Lukoil , to explore shale oil in western Siberia , had ground to a halt as a result of western sanctions.

Total Looks to China to Finance Russian Gas Project Amid Sanctions Total SA said it was seeking nondollar financing for a gas project in Russia, becoming the second energy company in several days to indicate that Western sanctions on the Kremlin are affecting expansion plans.

The Yamal plan, a $27 billion investment to tap vast natural gas reserves in northwest Siberia, aims to double Russia's stake in the fast-growing market for liquefied natural gas.

Russia's Yamal LNG project may tap wealth fund in 2014

Russia may prop up energy companies Rosneft and Novatek with up to $3.9 billion each from its National Wealth Fund, a reserve of oil proceeds set up to buoy the country's pension system.

Deals with CNPC seen good for Russian firms