The European Union has rolled out multiple sanctions packages aimed at pressuring Moscow while keeping a careful eye on energy trade. Among the measures, the bloc has not yet imposed a complete ban on Russian natural gas, a decision that keeps Russia as a supplier but tightens the financial squeeze elsewhere. After more than a year of conflict, Spain continues to source gas from Russia, and imports have risen in certain months, despite broader EU restrictions.
From the onset of the military operation in Ukraine last year through the close of January, Russian gas imports to Spanish energy companies rose by about 63 percent, amounting to more than 58,000 gigawatt hours (GWh) in that period. This figure compares with 35,650 GWh in the previous twelve months, according to records from Enagás, the operator responsible for Spain’s gas system. The trend highlights how contract structures and logistical choices can influence short-term energy flows even within a sanctioned framework. (Source: Enagás, energy records).
Throughout the full year, Russian gas supplies grew to account for more than 13 percent of total Spanish imports, up from 8.5 percent in the prior rolling year. During the war, Russia had emerged as Spain’s fourth-largest gas supplier, following the United States, Algeria, and Nigeria. This placement underscores the complex web of global energy supply chains and the high stakes involved for European energy security.
The energy sector points to several factors explaining the persistent rise in purchases from Russia over the past year. Long-term contracts signed before the war and the high risk associated with contravening large sanctions push many companies to maintain existing arrangements. In some cases, the increase in Russian arrivals is linked to the redirection of methane tankers that were initially bound for other European markets. This re-routing became more pronounced amid European plant outages experienced last summer, complicating supply planning across the region.
With much of the Russia–Europe natural gas pipeline network undergoing disruption, Spain has become a priority destination for Russian gas shipped by sea. The country boasts a substantial regasification capacity, representing a sizable portion of the EU total. From there, gas is redirected to other markets as needed. Cores statistics show that Spanish gas re-exports exceeded 68,200 GWh, reflecting a more than 90 percent year-over-year increase in a single year. (Source: Cores statistics). The resilient regasification complex in Spain plays a pivotal role in a continental energy landscape that increasingly relies on flexible, liquefied natural gas flows to manage outages and price volatility.
The Spanish government has consistently urged energy companies to curb purchases of Russian gas, while acknowledging that companies may continue imports under existing contracts. Since there has not been a coordinated EU decision to veto Russian gas imports, market participants have faced a gray area that allows some continued supply while policy aims to tighten restrictions. (Policy notes: EU stance on imports and national-level procurement choices).
Last week, Naturgy, the largest gas operator in the Spanish market, acknowledged that it continues to purchase Russian gas and does not find a sufficient legal basis to terminate the long-term agreement. Naturgy holds a contract with Yamal, a liquefaction plant controlled by the private Russian group Novatek, along with partners including TotalEnergies and a Chinese consortium. The company’s leadership argued that there is a practical reason to continue the supply under current terms, while critics warned that prolonged reliance on a single source can complicate future energy diversification decisions. (Statement: Naturgy leadership on Russian gas, 2042 contract).
Nine months without Russian crude
Confronted with rising Russian gas purchases during the conflict year, Spanish energy players began to reduce their exposure to Russian crude oil at the outset of the invasion. Statistics show nine consecutive months with zero Russian crude imports, reflecting a decisive pivot away from Moscow’s oil when possible. (Source: Cores statistics).
The EU initially set ambitious targets to cut crude oil purchases from Russia, including a goal to reduce Russian imports by around 90 percent by late 2022 and to enforce price caps on oil trades. In practice, this has shaped a dynamic where Russia has been compelled to adjust its pricing and market strategies. Spain moved ahead of many targets by pausing purchases entirely in May of the previous year. Since then, monthly oil inflows from Russia have remained at zero, illustrating the impact of policy through the energy supply chain.
Looking back at 2021, Spain’s imports of Russian oil surged by a notable 162 percent before easing in the months that followed. Increases in purchases continued through January of the following year; from February to April, import volumes declined, and since May oil arrivals from Russia have been zero. Between January and April of the prior year, Spain received a substantial volume of Russian crude, with data indicating a total of 698,000 tons that year. By year-end, that amount had fallen by about 73 percent compared with the previous period, signaling a radical shift in sourcing strategy and energy portfolio risk management. (Source: Energy trade records).