The European Union is slated to import record amounts of Russian liquefied natural gas this year, a trend in conflict with its aim to reduce reliance on Russian fossil fuels and cut off funding for President Vladimir Putin's war machine.
According to a report from the nonprofit group Global Witness, Spain and Belgium were ranked as the second- and third-largest buyers of Russian LNG, behind only China. Spain accounted for 18% of Russia's total LNG sales in the first seven months of 2023, while Belgium accounted for 17%.As a whole, EU imports of the chilled Russian gas were up 40% in the first half of this year.
EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson has asked member states and EU companies to halt purchases of Russian LNG, saying during a speech in March that the bloc"can and should get rid of Russian gas completely as soon as possible, still keeping in mind our security of supply." Jonathan Noronha-Gant, senior fossil fuel campaigner at Global Witness, said the EU should implement an emergency plan for a full phaseout of Russian LNG,"starting with a ban on the trade of the Russian gas which is lining Putin's pockets," noting that, otherwise, the bloc risks contradicting its efforts to punish Russia for its war in Ukraine.
"It doesn't matter if it comes from a pipeline or a boat — it still means European companies are sending billions to Putin's war chest," he added.
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