EU Drops Russian LNG Imports by 46% as Belgium Goes Cold
The European Union's imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) have plummeted, with Belgium completely eliminating its imports in August. This reduction is even more significant than expected, given that a total ban on importing Russian LNG into the EU will not take effect until January 2027.
According to a report by the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), EU imports of Russian LNG fell by 46% in August compared to the previous month. This marks the lowest monthly volume since Russia's full-scale invasion began in 2022.
Belgium, which had previously relied heavily on Russian LNG, imported no gas from Russia in August, down from 100% of its imports coming from Russia just a month prior. France, Spain, and the Netherlands are now the remaining EU countries importing Russian LNG.
The CREA report notes that French ports accounted for 57% of the EU's total LNG imports in August, with TotalEnergies energy company being a key player due to its import contract that will terminate at the end of 2026.