Russia is delivering more liquefied gas to Europe than before the start of the Ukraine war.
A real treat for Putin.
The Kremlin wants to expand its strategy.
Moscow – At the end of February, the EU tightened sanctions against Russia again.
The international community wanted to set an example in the ongoing Ukraine war.
According to the Union, the aim of the sanctions is to “effectively thwart Russia’s ability to continue aggression.”
However, questions arise about its effectiveness.
This is due, among other things, to Putin's LNG strategy, which has now been revealed by research.
So far there are no sanctions preventing the import of Russian gas into the EU.
Since the start of the war, however, deliveries have plummeted.
Of the 155 billion cubic meters in 2021, the international community imported 27 billion cubic meters in 2023.
Russia can increase liquefied gas exports despite the Ukraine war and sanctions
Imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) into the EU, on the other hand, increased by 38 percent.
This emerges from figures from the Bruegel think tank in Büssel.
In January 2024, the EU purchased almost 20 percent of its LNG from Russia.
The largest buyers are Spain, France and Belgium.
80 percent of deliveries from Russia arrive there.
From there, however, the gas reaches the European network - including Germany, as German Environmental Aid estimates.
Export goods |
Quantity 2021 |
Quantity 2023 |
Percentage change |
|---|---|---|---|
crude oil |
2.26 million barrels |
0.22 million barrels |
-90 |
Refined oil products |
1.05 million barrels |
0.09 million barrels |
-91 |
gas |
155 billion cubic meters |
27 billion cubic meters |
-83 |
Liquefied petroleum gas (LNG) |
13 billion cubic meters |
18 billion cubic meters |
+38 |
Money |
52 megatons |
0 |
-100 |
Source: Bruegel |
In order to increase LNG exports to the EU, Russia is now apparently pursuing a new strategy.
This emerges from research by
Wirtschaftswoche
and LiveEO, which is based on the analysis of satellite images and ship data.
The focus is on transporting the liquid gas by sea.
This is intended to replace the destroyed Nordstream gas pipelines.
Icebreaking freighters ensure Russia's LNG exports to the EU even in winter
With 15 LNG freighters, Putin's regime could export LNG in large quantities to Europe.
Since the 15 ships with an output of almost 70,000 hp can also break ice more than two meters thick, this is also possible in winter.
This will enable Russia to bridge the winter months when conventional freighters cannot sail.
+
A conventional LNG carrier: Russia is now using 15 icebreaking ships to export liquefied gas to the EU.
(archive photo)
© Lex Van Lieshout/dpa
The ships depart from the Sabetta LNG terminal on the Gulf of Ob and ultimately head towards the ports of Belgium, France and Spain.
The most important port is Zeebrugge in Belgium.
Russia's LNG freighters can almost compensate for the blown up Nordstream pipeline
The freighters could mathematically compensate for more than half of the failed Nordstream pipeline.
In 2021, an average of five billion cubic meters of gas was transported to Europe.
If each of the 15 ships brings two LNG cargoes to Europe every month, that would correspond to 3.1 billion cubic meters, explains
Wirtschaftswoche
.
Vladimir Putin wants to expand transports and is therefore investing heavily in new ships.
According to
Wirtschaftswoche,
he is currently having 15 icebreaking LNG freighters built - with support from Europe.
Until the war-related withdrawal, the LNG tanks came from the French manufacturer GTT.
The tanks on four ships are largely completed.
Putin wants to expand LNG exports to the EU and is investing – criticism of the EU
Gazprom is currently building another LNG terminal on the Baltic Sea.
It was originally pushed forward in collaboration with Shell, and from 2019 onwards together with the German gas company Linde.
Since the beginning of the attack on Ukraine, the Russian state-owned company has been on its own.
Despite delays due to unclear financing and problems with the construction of a connection pipeline from the Tambey gas fields, the terminal in Ust-Luga is scheduled to be operational in 2026.
Through the imports of liquid gas, European money continues to flow into Russia - and can therefore be used to finance the war.
The fact that the EU is buying gas despite the war is mainly due to the low prices.
German Environmental Aid therefore called for a stop to imports of Russian liquid gas in an open letter to the G7 and the EU on the second anniversary of the start of the war on February 24th.
(ms)
Category list image: © Lex Van Lieshout/dpa