The sharp increase in the purchase of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia by European countries could turn into a “trap” for the European Union (EU). Moscow could use such energy exports as “blackmail” when the EU needs to build up a stockpile for next winter. informs American edition of Politico.
At the end of 2022, European countries bought a total of 19.2 billion cubic meters of Russian LNG, according to the analytical center Bruegel. This was 35% more than in 2021, when the EU bought 14.2 billion liquefied fuels. In the 12 months of last year, France, the Netherlands, Spain and Belgium became the main importers of LNG from Russia.
“Putin is able to block exports to “non-hostile” countries while continuing to fuel poor Asian countries suffering from severe energy shortages. Europe actually fell into a trap due to the consumption of Russian LNG. Everything can turn into gas blackmail when it is necessary to build up reserves for the coming winter, ”says the material.
14 March RIA Novosti agency, based on calculations according to Eurostat reportedEU countries spent 3.3 times more than a year ago to purchase liquefied and piped gas from the rest of the world last year. In the first 12 months of 2022, EU expenditures increased from 62.5 billion Euros to 208 billion Euros.