The European Commission has announced that starting in 2027, EU operators will be prohibited from selling Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG), regardless of whether the buyers are located outside the EU.
This ban extends to trading and selling Russian LNG to third countries, as clarified in a letter from Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen to Poten and Partners.
Reuters reports that while the EU voted to halt imports of Russian gas by 2027 in response to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, several EU-based companies with long-term contracts for Russian LNG have raised concerns about the implications of this regulation.
These companies have pointed out that the combination of the new rules and existing sanctions against Russia does not provide clear guidance on whether they can redirect shipments to buyers outside the EU.
The European Commission emphasized in its letter that the ban prohibits EU operators from transshipping Russian LNG, regardless of the final destination.
Additionally, Reuters noted that last year, the EU imported 14.94 million metric tons of LNG from the Yamal LNG project in the Russian Arctic, with expectations that this figure may rise this year.
Notably, companies such as TotalEnergies from France, Germany’s SEFE, and Spain’s Naturgy are among those holding long-term purchase agreements.
The European Commission has confirmed a ban on the sale of Russian LNG by EU companies starting in 2027, affecting both EU and non-EU buyers. This decision follows the EU's commitment to cease Russian gas imports amid the Ukraine conflict, raising concerns among companies with existing contracts.
Source: Reuters