Los Two largest russian liquefied natural gas buyers of the European Union (EU) They refuse to support Brussels plan to prohibit itarguing that they need more guarantees on economic and legal consequences of the measure before making a decision. Francethe main buyer of the block, declared that prefers a strategy to search for alternative supplies. Belgiumfor its part, it requires a report that details the economic consequences before making a decision.
“What we are defending is a European diversification strategy, which is already on the table,” The Gallic Energy Minister Marc Ferracci said to the aforementioned medium, referring to France’s plan to replace Russian supplies with Qatari products.
This hesitation contradict that of other important liquefied natural gas (LNG) of the EU: Spain and Netherlands. Both states declared their interest in supporting the next legislationwhich would put end to Russian gas contractsprohibiting short -term purchases this year and long -term contracts for 2027. In theory, this would help nations to Avoid contracts that, otherwise, .
Getting the adhesion of the four countries, including ours, will be crucial for the EU executive body, in its search for support for its proposal, planned for next month. It is likely that Hungary and Slovakia try to disrupt the baneager to continue providing cheaper Russian energy ,. Numerous politicians and sector figures ask for a return To Russian energy after war, given the High invoices of Electricity of Europe and the difficult economic situation. This means that having the greatest importers on board would send a powerful signal.
Last year, the four countries Import 16.77 million tons of Russian LNG, according to the Kpler raw material platformwhat represents 97 % of the total imports of the EU and more than half of Moscow’s global exports. Together, they spent more than 6,000 million euros in the purchase of this fuel.
The Spanish position
To Space and the Netherlands, the third and fourth largest buyer of Moscow LNG, EU’s plans represent A good opportunity to end their energy links with Russia.
“Spain supports the European Commission’s proposal to prohibit Russian gas imports as soon as possible Through a common position of the EU, “said a spokesman for the Spanish Ministry of Ecological Transition. Currently, the country is Forced to buy supplies from the Russian Novatek until 2042 by virtue of a long -term contract signed with Naturgy energy.
The Netherlands also “continue to support elimination total Russian gas, “he told POLITICO A spokesman for the Dutch Ministry of Economy. “We expect with interest the legal proposal of the European Commission, which will allow us Eliminate the remaining volumes. The Netherlands are currently subject to a long -term supply contract, supervised by the French Energy Giant Totalenergies, up to 2032 “.
But France is more skeptics and indicates a several decades signed with Qatar in 2023 to import new volumes. While Paris “Support the strategy of reducing the risk of Russian fossil fuels”said French Ferracci, “a prohibition at European level means that nobody You can import LL [ruso]”.
Ferracci also questioned the “Legal Security” From the Brussels proposal, taking advantage of the fear that private companies can face Russian demands for abandoned contracts. French TotalEnergies, for example, is currently linked to a supply contract with Novatek until 2032 and has a 20 % participation in the Yamal project, which operates a LNG plant in Siberia. “The existing contract stock needs legally protected“, said.
Belgium, which will continue to receive and storing Russian LNG until 2035, also wants the EU executive to go further to dissipate their concerns. Before the EU present its proposals, “we ask the commission that presents an exhaustive impact assessment “ Of the measures, said Belgian Energy Minister Mathieu Bihet. The country will maintain technical conversations on the impact of measures on Belgium LNG infrastructure, he added.
The capitals of the block are considering promoting an economic and legal analysis at the level of the entire block, according to a draft declaration to which he had access POLITICO. An EU official said the commission was preparing a document that will analyze the impact of the measures. It is necessary to wait for the legal package to have a better idea of all implications for our country“Bihet added.
That gap is largely due to the gas supply, said Laura Page, a GNL analyst at Kpler, since Spain leaves winter with more renewed gas reserves than France and Belgium. However, a prohibition would not cause a supply crisisHe said, since all countries could buy greater volumes in the United States and Canada, which are planned to increase their capacity from next year.
