Why the EU still imports Russian LNG
13 January 2025
Despite pledges to cut ties with Russian energy, the EU still relies heavily on Russian fossil fuels – particularly liquefied natural gas (LNG) - due to sanction gaps. In 2024, the EU imported a record 17.8 million tonnes of Russian LNG, up by two million tonnes from the previous year, as data from Rystad Energy shows.
While pipeline gas imports from Russia have dropped since it began its war against Ukraine, LNG shipments have surged, making Russia Europe's second-largest LNG supplier after the US. LNG differs from regular pipeline gas because it's cooled into a liquid for easier global transport. This flexibility allows Russian LNG to bypass traditional pipeline routes, making it harder to regulate.
Unlike coal and pipeline gas, the EU hasn't sanctioned LNG and oil, mainly due to concerns over rising energy prices and supply shortages. Will that change? While some policymakers and Ukrainian politicians push for tighter sanctions, fears over inflation and energy security seemingly continue to stall decisive action.
 | Henrique Tizzot The EU's reluctance to sever energy ties with Russia exposes a troubling hypocrisy. While the Union loudly champions support for Ukraine and pledges to tackle the climate crisis, its continued import of Russian LNG, which funds Russia's war efforts, undermines its political commitments. According to a report by a Ukrainian advocacy group, tighter sanctions could cut greenhouse gas emissions caused by Russian oil and LNG by 25% by 2030. If renewable energy sources replaced them, end-use emissions could fall by 300 million tonnes a year, as the Guardian first reported. Analysts point out that cost considerations largely drive the surge in Russian LNG imports: Without EU sanctions on this energy source, companies naturally prioritise it as a cheaper option to ease financial pressure. |
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