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Reliable Suppliers and Diversification of the Sources of Gas and Oil Supply to the EU

To replace Russian gas imports, the EU is seeking alternative supply routes of LNG. 

As mandated by the European Council, the Commission and Member States are seeking to coordinate the use of existing infrastructure and to negotiate joint gas and hydrogen purchases, through the establishment of the EU Energy Platform Task Force.

The first created Regional Task Force was dedicated to supporting Southeast European countries, which have traditionally been highly dependent on Russian supply. The Central-Eastern regional group and the North-Western Europe, South-Western Europe and Baltics and Finland regional groups were initiated in the summer of 2022 but their action plans are still in preparation.

An informal expert group named “Industry Advisory Group” (“IAG”) will help the Platform to meet its objectives, by addressing necessary feedback on the options for demand aggregation and joint gas purchasing, as well as insights on how to ensure that the EU goals on reducing its dependency from Russian gas will be achieved. The IAG is composed by 28 permanent members and 8 observers, mainly energetic companies.

In 2022, Europe was the largest customer in the global LNG market, whereas in previous years, the EU lagged behind Japan and China on LNG imports. Indeed, EU countries imported 101mn tonnes of LNG in 2022, 58 per cent more than the previous year[1].

Statement by President von der Leyen issued on December 20, 2022:

“We have made great steps forward this year in diversifying our gas supplies and replacing Russian fossil fuels. But we know that 2023 will be tougher, and we may face a potential shortfall of almost 30 billion cubic metres of natural gas next year. By making joint purchasing of gas a reality, we will use the EU’s economic and political weight to secure more supplies for our citizens and industry. Today’s meeting will kick start this process.” 

Statement by President von der Leyen issued on December 12, 2022:

“In just a few months, we have turned the REPowerEU plan into many different legislative proposals and actions on the ground. And I think it is worth looking at that. Basically, we have taken ten different actions in the last ten months.

The first one is: we have enormously diversified away from Russian fossil fuels, away from Russian gas supplies towards other reliable, trustworthy suppliers. Second, we are saving energy. We have introduced, as you all know, the target to reduce gas demand by 15%. If we look at the data from early autumn, we are very well on track. It is good that we are saving energy and we have to keep on saving energy. The third point is: we are boosting the roll-out of renewables. If you look at the year 2022, we will have added almost 50 gigawatts of new capacity that is almost doubling the additional capacity of renewable energy, mostly from wind and solar. For us, this is very important because this is not only good for the planet, but we know that renewables are home-grown, they create good jobs here and they create independence and security of supply..”

Statement on Energy by President von der Leyen issued on September 7th, 2022:

“We have been working very hard to diversify away from Russia towards other reliable suppliers, like for example the United States or Norway, Azerbaijan, Algeria and others. Actually today, Norway is delivering more gas to the European Union than Russia. And we were able, if you look at the cuts that Russia has done in gas, to completely compensate so far the gas imports through other reliable suppliers.

[…] So here, the objective is: We must cut Russia’s revenues, which Putin uses to finance his atrocious war in Ukraine. And now our work of the last months really pays off. Because, at the beginning of the war, if you looked at the imported gas, 40% of it was Russian gas, since a long time. Today, we are down to 9% only”.

“While Russia has cut supplies of natural gas to several EU Member States, the United States and other producers have stepped up.  Since March, global LNG exports to Europe have risen by 75 percent compared to 2021, while US LNG exports to Europe have nearly tripled.  To facilitate these efforts, the European Commission and Member States, in line with a mandate given by the European Council in March 2022, established the EU Energy Platform to coordinate measures to secure reliable and diversified energy supplies for the EU, including through the voluntary common purchase of pipeline gas, LNG, and hydrogen. The Commission has also established the first Regional Energy Platform for South East Europe to support gas diversification of the region traditionally dependent on Russian supplies. The United States is a key partner for the sustainable diversification of gas supplies to this region and other acutely impacted EU Member States, including by supporting demand reduction and accelerating clean technologies.” [2]

Overall EU gas supply

January 2023:

December 2022: 

October 2022:

September 2022:

July 2022:

May 2022:

March 2022:

Gas Supply From Africa

September 2022: 

May 2022:

April 2022:

Gas Supply From the U.S.

August 2022:

July 2022:

June 2022:

Gas Supply From Canada

August 2022: 

Gas Supply From Norway

September 2022:

August 2022:

Gas Supply From Spain

September 2022:

Gas Supply From France

September 2022:

Gas Supply From Portugal

September 2022: 

 

[1] See Europe leads pack on LNG imports as global competition for fuel heats up, Financial Times, January 7, 2022.

[2] See Joint Statement by President von der Leyen and President Biden on European Energy Security, June 27, 2022, Brussels, available here.