EU Energy Commissioner calls for Russian LNG import phase-out

Reuters reported the information.

"I encourage all member states and all companies to stop buying Russian LNG, and not to sign any new gas contracts with Russia once the existing contracts have expired," Simson said in the European Parliament.

According to her, the EU has bought 12.4 billion cubic meters of LNG from Russia over the past 12 months. She noted that this year's volume could be the same or even higher than in 2022. European imports of Russian LNG in January-July increased by 40% compared to the same period in 2021, before the outbreak of full-scale war in Ukraine. Despite the Union's plans to phase out Russian fossil fuels by 2027, it continues to buy Russian LNG. The bloc has already blocked maritime imports of Russian oil and petroleum products such as diesel.

"We can and we must reduce Russian LNG exports to phase them out completely.I want the parliament and the council to agree for the gas package to include robust provisions to allow member states individually to restrict, where security of supply allows it, the access to Russian LNG exports," Simson added.

Over 100 billion cubic meters of gas had been reportedly stored in EU storage facilities by the beginning of winter. Simson emphasized that gas consumption by the bloc in August 2022 - June 2023 decreased by 17% compared to the average over the past five years due to efficiency measures and falling demand.

"It is estimated that the EU can save 65 bcm of gas from March 2023 to March 24," she emphasized.

• With winter 2022 approaching, Russia began gas blackmail of Europe. The EU found alternative supply routes and survived the winter. At the beginning of 2023, Russian gas transit through Ukraine dropped: a 16% decline is attributed to mild weather in Europe and the availability of alternative sources.

• In the first quarter of 2023, Russia's oil and gas revenues fell by 45%, primarily due to the entry into force of G7 sanctions against oil and oil products from Russia.

• On April 14, Lithuanian Energy Minister Dainius Kreivys said that the Baltic states would look for a solution to stop imports of liquefied petroleum gas from Russia to the Baltic states, which more than doubled last year.  

• On August 8, it is reported that the European Union managed to reduce Russian gas supplies via pipelines from 50% to 8% within a year of the full-scale invasion.

• On August 16, Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said that after the expiration of the gas transit contract with Russia, Ukraine would not negotiate its extension.