EU imported more gas via LNG from US than through pipeline from Russia in June: IEA chief

Amid ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, European Union (EU) countries for first time in history imported more Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) from United States than pipeline gas from Russia. This was declared by Fatih Birol, he of International Energy Agency (IEA). " drop in Russian supply calls for efforts to reduce EU demand to prepare for a tough winter," he wrote on Twitter. According to data shared by him, volume of US LNG shipments to Europe in June amounted to around 5 billion cubic metres, whereas,   amount of natural gas imported from Russia decreased marginally.

Russian energy giant Gazprom reduced its gas exports to non-CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) countries by 28.9% to 65.6 billion cubic meters in first 5.5 months of 2022. However, in certain cases, this happened due to circumstances beyond control of holding, TASS news agency reported. ditionally, according to Gazprom, company is unable to pump gas via Poland using Yamal-Europe gas pipeline due to Russian embargoes imposed against several foreign energy firms.

Gazprom suspended gas supply to several firms in Europe

Meanwhile, annual scheduled technical works on Turkish Stream and Blue Stream gas pipelines were completed in May and June with a total halt of gas pumping. Earlier in April, Gazprom also announced that it h completely suspended gas supplies to Bulgarian company Bulgargaz and Polish firm PGNiG due to non-payment in rubles on time. On May 21, it was reported that supply of Russian gas to Finnish state energy company Gasum was also halted for same reason. Furr, deliveries were also stopped to Danish Orsted, Dutch GasTerra and Shell Energy Europe. 

EU approves new gas storage law amid concern over furr cut-offs by Russia

It is significant to mention here that EU energy ministers have also approved a new law to ensure that Europe's gas storage is at least 80% full by November this year amid threat of furr gas cut-offs by Russia. According to European Commission, Russian gas deliveries have been interrupted in as many as 12 EU nations so far, and supply levels are now half in comparison to previous year.

Image: Instagram/@Ursula von der Leyen/AP