Russia determined to shed light on Nord Stream; here's why the EU hasn't "frozen" Moscow's LNG flows

On September 8, Spanish Energy Minister Teresa Ribera affirmed that the European Union (EU) currently has no plans to block Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG).

EU chưa có kế hoạch cấm nhập khẩu LNG của Nga

The Yamal pipeline compressor station in Gabinek, near Wloclawek, Poland, delivers gas from Russia to Western Europe. (Source: Reuters)

Spain holds the rotating EU presidency until the end of December 2023 and will have priority in enacting legislative decisions for the bloc as a whole.

Minister Ribera said that the sense of concern about the scarcity of the energy crisis in Europe in 2022 has not completely disappeared.

The European Commission and EU member states want to avoid the same kind of turmoil as last year.

However, Ms. Ribera warned that if the development of the Russia-Ukraine conflict does not change, it is very likely that a ban will be imposed.

According to Minister Ribera, the Spanish government has considered blocking imports of Russian LNG, but there is no legal basis to issue a ban without the unanimous position of the EU because this is trade outside the bloc.

She also called on EU companies not to sign new supply contracts with Russia and to be more transparent about the LNG they import into the EU, to avoid risks.

In June 2022, the EU issued a ban on imports of Russian crude oil and oil products, but did not ban imports of LNG.

Extensive Western sanctions have caused Russia's energy export revenue to drop significantly, but the commodity still brings Russia billions of dollars in profits.

During the period from January to July 2023, LNG imports from Russia to the EU increased by 40% compared to the same period in 2021. Unlike the "frozen" oil products, the flow of LNG from Russia to the EU has shown no signs of slowing down so far.

Brussels-based consultancy Bruegel calculates that Europe has paid Russia about $12.85 billion for LNG imports from March 2022 to February 2023.

Among the bloc's members, Spain is the second-largest buyer of Russian LNG globally.

* On the Telegram channel, First Deputy Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations (UN) Dmitry Polyansky said that Moscow has requested the UN Security Council (UNSC) to convene a meeting on September 26 to discuss the issue of sabotage of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines.

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