Key information
- Russian gas imports via Ukraine are set to expire in December 2024.
- EU ministers are discussing alternatives, including Azerbaijan as a possible replacement supplier.
- Russia’s increasing LNG exports and the effectiveness of existing sanctions continue to raise concerns.
European Union energy ministers are engaged in discussions regarding the future of Russian gas imports as the current Ukraine transit deal nears its December 2024 expiration date.
Increasing exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia to the EU are a growing concern, coupled with questions about the effectiveness of existing sanctions on re-exports. Some member states, including France and Belgium, are urging the European Commission to implement stricter regulations on the reporting of LNG import volumes by suppliers and storage companies.
Discussion of alternatives
Belgian Energy Minister Tinne van der Straeten highlighted the significant increase in LNG imports into her country, suggesting a possible reorientation towards security of European supply, but highlighting the difficulty of implementing the package current sanctions due to lack of transparency.
Meanwhile, discussions are underway regarding potential alternatives to Russian gas, with Azerbaijan mentioned as a possible replacement supplier. However, concrete details regarding the feasibility and logistics of such a transition remain unclear.
Uncertainty about the future
The Ukrainian transit route is about to end, although Slovakia, which still depends on this pipeline, has expressed a desire to continue using it. EU ministers have not yet reached an agreement on replacing Russian gas flows, but it is possible that an agreement could take shape in the near future, or even at the last minute.
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