European Union concerned about increasing gas imports from Russia

"We have seen LNG volumes doubling in Belgium. Perhaps they are used to secure supplies within Europe... so we are calling for a tracking system," said Tinne van der Straeten, Belgium's energy minister, at a meeting of EU energy ministers in Luxembourg on October 15.

In June, the EU agreed a 14th package of sanctions that included a ban on Russian gas shipments from March next year but stopped short of a total ban. Since then, Belgium and the Netherlands have seen a sharp increase in imports.

Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea. Photo: Reuters

In a letter on October 14, France and nine other countries asked the European Commission to propose stricter reporting obligations for storage companies and suppliers on Russian LNG.

"Belgium will apply, we will support the initiative to ban and more closely monitor LNG imports from Russia," Finnish Environment and Climate Minister Kai Mykkanen told reporters ahead of the meeting.

Shortly after the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out in February 2022, the EU announced efforts to phase out Russian fossil fuels “as soon as possible” without specifying a specific date.

After the Nord Stream pipeline used to transport Russian gas to Europe was destroyed in 2022, Russian LNG imports to the EU increased, while gas was still transported via Ukraine and Türkiye to Central Europe.

The contract between Ukraine and Russia on gas transit through Ukraine is expected to expire next December.

At the meeting, EU ministers also looked at practical ways to help Ukraine weather the winter. The International Energy Agency said Ukraine’s winter power shortage could reach 6 gigawatts (GW), exacerbated by the end of the Russian gas pipeline deal.

Poland said it was in talks with Ukrainian transmission companies to increase exports, while Lithuania dismantled a power plant being rebuilt in Ukraine.

Gas and electricity prices in Europe are higher than in the US and elsewhere, and they vary significantly across the bloc. In September, the Greek prime minister called for an urgent EU response to rising electricity prices in central and eastern Europe.

Ngoc Anh (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/lien-minh-chau-au-quan-ngai-ve-viec-ngay-cang-phai-nhap-khi-dot-tu-nga-post316951.html