Belgium calls for coordinated ban on Russian LNG in Europe

Belgium is pushing the European Union to adopt a coordinated ban on imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG), arguing for a legal basis to speed up the phase-out of fossil fuels from Russia.

Share:

Belgium, through its Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten, is calling for a common EU approach to stopping Russian LNG imports.
This plea aims to reinforce the sanctions already in place against the Russian energy sector, while relying on a solid legal basis to guarantee the effectiveness of the approach.
Since June, the EU has adopted its fourteenth sanctions package, including for the first time measures against transshipments of Russian LNG to non-European markets.
However, despite these measures, Europe has not yet imposed a total ban on LNG imports from Russia, which maintains an energy dependency deemed problematic by several member states, including Belgium.
Van der Straeten denounces this situation, pointing out that Europe indirectly continues to finance the conflict in Ukraine by remaining dependent on Russian LNG and other fossil fuels.

Sanctions against Russian LNG: an incomplete framework

The current sanctions mainly target Russian LNG logistics, prohibiting transshipment in European ports for deliveries to third-party markets.
This ban will come into force in March 2025, and should complicate Russian exports, particularly to Asia.
However, the EU has not yet implemented a complete embargo on Russian LNG imports.
Belgium, which still relies on Russian LNG for part of its supply, is campaigning for a wider and immediate ban at European level.
The Russian LNG sector is a key player in the global energy economy, notably through projects such as Yamal LNG, which supplies a large proportion of the LNG exported to Europe via ports such as Zeebrugge in Belgium.
Sanctions on transshipments are likely to affect Russian shipping routes, increasing logistical costs for Russia without directly disrupting LNG supplies to European countries.

Impact of measures on the European market

The European Commission is responsible for monitoring the impact of sanctions on LNG imports, and for reporting any significant developments by June 2025.
So far, the sanctions are mainly aimed at restricting Russia’s ability to use European infrastructure for transshipment, without totally banning the import of Russian LNG.
These measures are therefore unlikely to directly affect gas prices or supply within the European Union, according to expert analysis.
The global LNG market remains dynamic, and prices depend above all on global supply and demand.
In 2023, Russian LNG exports to the European Union reached 14.2 million tonnes, slightly up on 2022.
France, Spain and Belgium are the main importers, with 4.4 million, 3.9 million and 2.1 million tonnes respectively received in 2024.
The current sanctions have therefore not yet had a significant impact on these volumes, although the prospect of a complete embargo could force member states to diversify their LNG supplies.

Diversifying LNG supplies

While Belgium calls for tougher action against Russian LNG, other member states are already turning to new suppliers to limit their dependence on Russia.
Several gas infrastructure projects are underway to increase LNG import capacity from other parts of the world, including the USA, Qatar and African countries.
These initiatives aim to strengthen Europe’s energy security, while gradually reducing the share of imports from Russia.
At the same time, LNG prices continue to fluctuate due to uncertainties over global supply.
The spot price of LNG for delivery in Europe remains above $10/MMBtu, with a recent estimate of $12.18/MMBtu in September 2024.
These prices reflect tensions on the international market, but should not be directly affected by sanctions on Russian transshipments, which primarily concern logistics costs.

Belgium’s position in the European energy debate

Belgium is positioning itself as a key player in the defense of a common European strategy to end dependence on Russian LNG.
While the European Union is struggling to establish a total embargo, member states like Belgium are seeking to implement stricter measures at national level to support decarbonization of the gas sector and strengthen the continent’s energy resilience.
In the absence of a complete ban, pressure is mounting to accelerate efforts to diversify sources of supply.
Debates within the European Union are set to continue over the coming months, as sanctions on transshipments take effect and the European Commission publishes its assessment report in 2025.

Turkey has connected its gas grid to Syria’s and plans to begin supplying gas for power generation in the coming weeks, according to Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar.
Despite record electricity demand, China sees no significant increase in LNG purchases due to high prices and available alternative supplies.
US natural gas production and consumption are expected to reach record highs in 2025, before slightly declining the following year, according to the latest forecasts from the US Energy Information Administration.
Naftogaz announces the launch of a natural gas well with a daily output of 383,000 cubic meters, amid a sharp decline in Ukrainian production following several military strikes on its strategic facilities.
Sonatrach and ENI have signed a $1.35 billion production-sharing agreement aiming to extract 415 million barrels of hydrocarbons in Algeria's Berkine basin, strengthening energy ties between Algiers and Rome.
Maple Creek Energy is soliciting proposals for its advanced 1,300 MW gas project in MISO Zone 6, targeting long-term contracts and strategic co-location partnerships with accelerated connection to the regional power grid.
VMOS signs a USD 2 billion loan to finance the construction of the Vaca Muerta South pipeline, aiming to boost Argentina's energy production while reducing costly natural gas imports.
According to a Wood Mackenzie report, Argentina could achieve daily gas production of 180 million cubic metres per day by 2040, aiming to become a key regional supplier and a significant exporter of liquefied natural gas.
Côte d'Ivoire and the Italian group Eni assess progress on the Baleine energy project, whose third phase plans a daily production of 150,000 barrels of oil and 200 million cubic feet of gas for the Ivorian domestic market.
The extreme heatwave in China has led to a dramatic rise in electricity consumption, while Asia records a significant drop in liquefied natural gas imports amid a tight global energy context.
E.ON, together with MM Neuss, commissions Europe’s first fully automated cogeneration plant, capable of achieving a 91 % fuel-use rate and cutting CO₂ emissions by 22 000 t a year.
Facing the lowest temperatures recorded in 30 years, the Argentine government announces reductions in natural gas supply to industries to meet the exceptional rise in residential energy demand across the country.
Solar power generation increased sharply in the United States in June, significantly reducing natural gas consumption in the power sector, despite relatively stable overall electricity demand.
Golden Pass LNG, jointly owned by Exxon Mobil and QatarEnergy, has asked US authorities for permission to re-export liquefied natural gas starting October 1, anticipating the imminent launch of its operations in Texas.
Delfin Midstream reserves gas turbine manufacturing capacity with Siemens Energy and initiates an early works programme with Samsung Heavy Industries, ahead of its anticipated final investment decision in the autumn.
Norwegian group DNO ASA signs gas offtake contract with ENGIE and secures USD 500 million financing from a major US bank to guarantee future revenues from its Norwegian gas production.
Golar LNG Limited has completed a private placement of $575mn in convertible bonds due in 2030, using part of the proceeds to repurchase and cancel 2.5 million of its own common shares, thus reducing its share capital.
Shell Canada Energy announces shipment of the first liquefied natural gas cargo from its LNG Canada complex, located in Kitimat, British Columbia, primarily targeting fast-growing Asian economic and energy markets.
The Australian government is considering the establishment of an east coast gas reservation as part of a sweeping review of market rules to ensure supply, with risks of shortages signalled by 2028.
The increase in oil drilling, deepwater exploration, and chemical advances are expected to raise the global drilling fluids market to $10.7bn by 2032, according to Meticulous Research.