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EU countries have increased imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia’s Arctic “Yamal LNG” project, amid a global supply squeeze triggered by the energy crisis in the Middle East, according to the Financial Times.
Data from Kpler shows that imports from Yamal LNG rose 17% year-on-year in the first quarter, reaching 5 million tonnes. In March alone, EU states received about 1.8 million tonnes.
The NGO Urgewald estimates that EU spending on gas from the plant totaled around €2.88 billion over the first three months of the year, driven by higher European gas prices, which peaked at €52.87 per MWh in March.
Analysts say the increase was linked to disruptions in Middle Eastern supply chains, including reduced Qatari LNG exports due to instability around the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, EU sanctions limiting transshipment have made Europe the main destination for these cargoes, with 97% of Yamal shipments reportedly going to EU ports in the period.
Despite the growth, the European Commission maintains its long-term goal of fully phasing out Russian LNG imports, with a planned ban set for January 2027.
