EU’s Reliance on Russian LNG Surges as 2027 Import Ban Looms

The European Union (EU) has seen a significant surge in its imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia’s Yamal LNG facility in the first quarter of 2026, just months before the bloc’s planned full ban on Russian gas imports takes effect in 2027. This sharp increase has raised questions about the EU’s ability to wean itself off Russian energy smoothly.

According to the Financial Times, which cited data from Kpler, the EU purchased 97% of the LNG produced at Novatek’s Yamal LNG plant in the first three months of the year, a 17% rise compared with the same period last year, totaling 5 million tons. Despite ongoing efforts to secure alternative energy supplies and reduce dependence on Russian energy, the bloc has struggled to find cost-competitive alternatives.

Between January and March, the EU took delivery of 69 out of 71 LNG cargoes shipped from the Yamal Peninsula in western Siberia, with 25 cargoes arriving in March alone—the highest monthly figure in the quarter, accounting for 1.8 million tons of the superchilled fuel. Evgeniy Kot, director-general of the Yamal project, once noted that 96% of the project's LNG production had been sold to European and Asian customers through long-term contracts of 20 to 25 years.

The Financial Times also reported that the cost of Yamal LNG imports for the first quarter reached 2.88 billion euros, driven by soaring gas prices amid disrupted energy flows from the Middle East. Yamal LNG is jointly developed by Russia’s Novatek, which holds a 50.1% stake, along with France’s Total S.A. and China National Petroleum Corporation, each with 20% stakes, and China’s Silk Road Fund with a 9.9% stake.

According to Xinhua News Agency, the EU is set to implement the first phase of its Russian gas ban on April 25, prohibiting EU buyers from purchasing Russian LNG through spot contracts. A full ban on LNG imports will take effect at the start of 2027, followed by a ban on pipeline gas imports in the autumn of the same year.

The timing of the ban presents a challenge for EU countries, which have depleted their gas storage and now need to refill reserves during the seasonally low demand period. With spot deals for Russian LNG soon to be banned and Qatari supply currently absent, the bloc faces additional pressure on gas availability in the coming months.