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EU Parliament authorizes legal choice to obstruct Russian LNG imports

The European Parliament voted on Thursday to pass rules allowing European governments to restriction Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports, by preventing Russian firms from booking gas facilities capability.

The European Union has prevented imposing sanctions on Russian gas, which some members rely greatly on.

As a workaround, the brand-new gas policy intends to establish a. legal route for federal governments to block Russian gas shipments to. their nation though up until now no significant importer has indicated they. will utilize it.

The new EU gas market guidelines enable governments to briefly. stop Russian and Belarusian gas exporters from bidding for. capacity on the facilities required to deliver piped gas and. LNG into Europe.

Russia slashed pipeline gas shipments to Europe following. its 2022 intrusion of Ukraine - shrinking what had actually been the primary. path for Russian supplies to reach Europe. But Russian LNG. continues to stream into the continent, primarily through ports in. Spain, Belgium and France.

These nations have actually not validated they will use the brand-new. legal option.

A representative for Spain's energy ministry said the nation. supported a common EU position on banning Russian LNG, given that if. Spain did this alone, Russian companies could merely send their fuel. to other EU ports.

Belgium's energy minister has stated the government is. analysing the law and its conditions - which include that. restricting Russian gas imports can not interrupt circulations of gas. between EU countries. Belgium re-exports much of the Russian LNG. it gets, to other countries.

France's financing ministry did not immediately react to a. ask for comment.

Russian LNG shipments to Europe increased last year to 22. bcm, up from around 16 bcm in 2021, according to EU analysis.

A reinforced majority of EU countries need to authorize the. policy before it takes effect - a step that is expected to pass. the law without modifications.

The EU has imposed sanctions on Russian sea-borne oil. imports and coal. Sanctions require unanimous approval from EU. countries. Hungary has actually pledged to obstruct a Russian gas import restriction.

(source: Reuters)