EU imports of Russian LNG plummet, with Belgium down to zero, report says
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Belgium eliminated imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) in August, driving an EU-wide reduction months ahead of a total ban, according to a new report published by the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) think tank on Sept. 11.
"EU imports of Russian LNG fell 46% month-on-month to their lowest monthly volume since Russia's full-scale invasion began (in 2022)," reads CREA's latest report.
CREA's Europe-Russia Energy policy analyst Isaac Levi confirmed to the Kyiv Independent that Belgium imported no LNG from Russia in August. In July, 100% of Belgium's LNG imports came from Russia.
Belgium's weaning itself off Russian LNG leaves France, Spain, and the Netherlands as the remaining importers.
French ports accounted for 57% of the EU's total LNG imports. Levi explained that France's TotalEnergies energy company has an LNG import contract that will be terminated at the end of 2026.
From January 2027, imports of Russian LNG into the EU will be illegal under its REPowerEU regulation.
Despite the EU's continued reduction in imports of Russian fossil fuels, the bloc remains the largest buyer of Russian LNG, the CREA report notes.
According to CREA, the EU accounted for 49% of Russia's total LNG exports, nearly double that of the second-largest destination, China, at 24%.
But the report interprets this as a sign of "Moscow's dependence on a narrow set of key customers."
And there are signs Russia might be struggling with customers further afield.
CREA notes that "exports of oil products reported as destined for Australia from refineries running on Russian crude dropped 81% in value terms month-on-month."
In August, the Australian Senate began discussing how to tighten its own Russian sanctions, with tackling the import of Russia-derived oil products identified as a priority.
