A gas company exploring the Northern Territory's Beetaloo Basin says Australian sanctions against a Russian billionaire with links to the project are unlikely to affect its drilling activities.
This morning, the federal government imposed sanctions on two Russian oligarchs with business interests in Australia: Oleg Deripaska and Viktor Vekselberg.
Mr Vekselberg is a self-made aluminium baron and owner of Lamesa Holdings, which has shareholdings in Falcon Oil & Gas, a partner of Origin Energy's joint venture in the gas-rich Beetaloo Basin.
The billionaire was previously the subject of international sanctions over Russia's 2014 invasion of Crimea.
He has now been added to Australia's official sanctions list, along with 20 Russian businesses, as part of the federal government's response to the invasion in Ukraine.
In a statement, Origin Energy said it was aware Mr Vekselberg had been issued sanctions by Australia.
However, given that Origin Energy was the majority owner and operator in the Beetaloo Basin project, the company said it would continue to have "control over all activities".
"Neither Lamesa Holdings, nor Mr Vekselberg, are a party to the Beetaloo Basin joint venture," the company said in a statement.
"They have no role in, involvement or dealings with, Origin or the Beetaloo Basin joint venture."
Mr Vekselberg's representative on the board of Falcon Oil & Gas resigned on March 1, following concerns raised by Origin about Lamesa's investment in Falcon.
Origin said it was seeking clarification from the federal Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade about any implications the sanctions would have on the company.
"Origin reiterates that it is appalled by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and will comply with all Australian rules and laws," the statement said.
Origin questioned over Russian billionaire's involvement
The Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility's Dan Gocher said his organisation had sent questions to Origin about the exact size of Mr Vekselberg's interest in Falcon Oil & Gas.
"The other thing we have sought clarity on is how do you ensure Vekselberg doesn't benefit from any successful exploration," Mr Gocher said.
"That's obviously a trickier question — there may be a way of quarantining his interest in Falcon Oil & Gas to prevent him benefiting [from the Beetaloo project].
"With the subsidies that the government is throwing at the Beetaloo Basin, Vekselberg could benefit from taxpayer subsidies, and that's not something that any of us want to see."
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Northern Territory government said it would work with Origin Energy and other operators to ensure all parties abided by any sanctions set by the Australian government.
"Origin has no direct contact with any shareholders of Falcon Oil & Gas, nor do these investors have any influence over activities in the Beetaloo Basin," the spokesperson said.
Earlier this week, the federal government placed sanctions on a separate Russian billionaire, Roman Abramovich, who is the London-based owner of Millhouse Capital and Chelsea Football Club.
Speaking in Sydney this morning, Foreign Minister Marise Payne denied any suggestions that Australia had been too slow to act in sanctioning Mr Vekselberg and Mr Deripaska.
"We have been working closely with partners," Ms Payne said.
"I have taken the advice from my own agency and I think that Australians would expect that their government would want the due diligence done on the sanctions processes, no matter where they apply, to make sure that we are addressing all of those issues."
