Expert Timonin: US LNG supplies to Europe increased by 2.5 times in 2022

MOSCOW, January 7 – RIA Novosti. European countries increased their liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports by more than 60% in total last year to 125 million tons, and the USA became the largest fuel supplier, increasing its exports to Europe nearly two and a half times. a consultant told the RIA Novosti company “Vygon Consulting” Ivan Timonin.

“By 2022 results, Europe … significantly increased LNG import volume from 75 million tons (102 billion cubic meters) to about 125 million tons (170 billion cubic meters), or more than 60% compared to last year,” Timonin said.

The agency’s interlocutor added that the United States had become Europe’s largest supplier of liquefied gas – and by a wide margin – by the end of the year. As the analyst noted, the indicator has almost doubled and a half, from 21.4 million tons (29 billion cubic meters) to over 53 million tons (72 billion cubic meters). Timonin also stressed that liquefied gas has become the EU’s key tool in replacing pipeline supplies from Russia.

Last year, many European countries completely or partially lost their largest gas supplier, Gazprom. In the spring, it reduced or stopped deliveries to Bulgargaz in Bulgaria, PGNiG in Poland, Gasum in Finland, Gas Terra in the Netherlands, Shell Energy Europe in Germany and Orsted in Denmark. Decree of the President of the Russian Federation on payment in rubles or other technical reasons.

Then, at the beginning of summer, deliveries along the main route, the Nord Stream gas pipeline, were significantly reduced, as the German Siemens could not return the necessary unit to Russia after repair due to Canadian sanctions. Full operation of gas pipelines became impossible due to difficulties in maintenance, and in the autumn supply along the route stopped.

Pumping along the stabilizing Belarusian route – the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline – decreased significantly along the Ukrainian route, as Ukraine stopped receiving part of the transit, after Russia’s counter-sanctions against the operator of the Polish division also ceased. As a result, Russian pipeline gas is now supplied to Europe, where it comes from one of two entry points to Ukraine’s gas transport system and via the Turkish Stream and Blue Stream pipelines through Turkey.