The authorities of the EU countries agree to continue importing LNG from Russia, despite US pressure, stated in an interview with Le Journal du dimanche the head of 'TotalEnergies', Patrick Pouyanne. Pouyanne said that Total has a 20-year contract with Russia. And if the company stops taking gas from Russia, it will still have to pay for it. "On the day when the Europeans decide to impose sanctions against Russian gas, we will be able to refer to the "force majeure clause" and stop production overnight. At the moment, the EU is telling us to continue, despite American pressure," Pouyanne said. In 2022, the EU imported 15 million tons of LNG (about 20.7 bcm) from Russia. In January - May 2023 the EU decreased gas consumption by 10% compared to the same period in 2022 and amounted to 161 bcm. Pipeline supplies to the EU decreased by 35% to 65 bcm. Of this volume, only 10 bcm were supplied from Russia (a 77% drop). In total, in January - May 2023, Europe imported 58.9 million tons (+10%) of LNG, while Russian supplies of liquefied natural gas decreased by only 1.65%.
Source: Turan News Agency