Data shows that three EU member states are among the top five most prominent consumers of Russian LNG in 2023.
EBN – The environmental watchdog organisation Global Witness has exposed the European Union’s reliance on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG).
The data addressed the period between January and July 2023. It unveiled that the EU received 21.6 million cubic meters (mcm) of Russia’s gas. The recent imports mark a slight rise from the 21.3 mcm imported during the same period in 2022.
However, when this year’s figures are compared with the pre-war period in 2021, the increase becomes enormous at 39.5%.
This percentage is particularly striking for a union that has unequivocally denounced Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine and its sovereignty.
EU Member States Among Top Consumers
The irony further intensifies as the data shows that three EU member states––Spain, Belgium, and France––are among the top five most prominent consumers of Russian LNG in 2023.
China holds first place (8.7 mcm), followed by Spain (7.5 mcm), Belgium (7.1 mcm), Japan (7 mcm), and France (4.5 mcm).
Given the coastal nature of these countries, they have evolved into key ports for LNG carriers. Additionally, they facilitated the unloading and processing of the liquefied gas into its gaseous form for further distribution.
According to Global Witness, the list of Russia’s LNG consumers also includes the Netherlands, Greece, Portugal, Finland, Italy, and Sweden. The watchdog organisation based its data on shipping information collected from analytics firm Kpler.
Collectively, the EU’s appetite for Russian LNG is estimated to encompass 52% of Russia’s total LNG exports this year. Indeed, this market share surpasses the 49% registered in 2022 and the 39% in 2021.
Importing Russian LNG: War Funding Concerns
This influx of Russian LNG has contributed to an expenditure of €5.29 billion in 2023. This hike has raised concerns about the EU’s commitment to curbing financial support for Russian activities.
Although the EU has imposed bans on Russia since the war’s commencement, purchases of Russian LNG remain active.
Critics argue that buying Russian gas directly sustains the Kremlin’s war funds.
Furthermore, environmental campaigners like Jonathan Noronha-Gant from Global Witness highlighted this notion.
“Buying Russian gas has the same impact as buying Russian oil. Both fund the war in Ukraine,” Noronha-Gant said. “While European countries decry the war, they’re putting money into Putin’s pockets.”
