During thrift season and amid uncertainty over Ukraine’s war, Europe faces a potential winter pause in Russian gas supplies. A recent statistics bulletin from Enagás shows Spain increasing its gas purchases by 15 percent over the last seven months, totaling 263,432 GWh. In July, the rise was even more pronounced at 27 percent year over year, though month-to-month movements remained closely aligned. Russia’s share stayed steady at about 10 percent for more than a year, a reflection of broader supply dynamics and long-term contractual commitments that resist abrupt interruption without clear justification under EU sanctions regimes.
Industry observers note that Russia continues to be classified as the third-largest gas supplier due to the inertia of long-term contracts that cannot be broken easily when no decisive provocation exists. At the start of the previous month, Teresa Ribera, the Third Vice President and Minister for Ecological Transition, signaled that marketers responsible for gas procurement should pursue strategies to curtail Russian gas and, where possible, diversify supply contracts. This stance aligns with a broader push to reduce dependence on Russian gas even as contractual obligations complicate rapid changes.
Ribera’s remarks followed data showing that Russia supplied 8,752 GWh of gas in June, representing 24.4 percent of the total. Such figures sparked political debate over Spain’s energy trajectory. Arturo Gonzalo Aizpurua, the CEO of Enagás, described the situation as temporary and exceptional for business reasons, and in July indicated that the country’s supply would likely revert to its customary 10 percent share of the total. In July, Russian gas accounted for 5,317 GWh, or 14.5 percent of the total. Across the first seven months, the 10 percent level has been maintained in practice.
With Russia remaining at its usual weight, the notable shift lies in the surge of imports from the United States, which has emerged as the leading supplier from the start of the year. US imports more than tripled in the first seven months, reaching 33 percent of total gas, compared with 9.1 percent a year earlier. This rise accompanies a decline in purchases from Algeria, which previously ranked as the top supplier, largely due to the closure of the Maghreb–Europe gas pipeline in December 2021.
Despite contemporary tensions and nearly four months since the invasion of Ukraine, Spain’s gas supply diversification continues to reflect a broader pattern. The United States, Algeria, and Russia together account for a substantial portion of imports, roughly 70 percent, while the remaining 30 percent comes from a growing list of other trading partners. Nigeria, Trinidad and Tobago, Egypt, Portugal, and Oman contribute smaller, yet noteworthy shares, illustrating the expanding geographic footprint of Spain’s gas sourcing strategy.