Belgium's July LNG Supply Once Again Came Entirely from Russia

Russian Gas Reliance Collides With EU Energy Plans

According to 5 канал — Економіка: Bloomberg reports that Belgium's LNG imports in July-amounting to roughly 0.4 million tonnes-came entirely from Russia, marking another month of complete dependency. Although that volume was smaller than what Belgium purchased at the start of the year, the figures unsettle EU policymakers who are preparing to ban Russian LNG imports next year. For the bloc, each such cargo now carries political significance as well as commercial value.

Market Pressures and Supply Risks

Belgium still receives pipeline gas from Norway and the UK, but most European countries are holding off on winter purchases due to prohibitively high prices. Rising prices have been driven by the war in Iran and the renewed blockage of the Strait of Hormuz after attacks on tankers in the region, which have once again thrown supply chains into uncertainty.

The EU has banned new short-term Russian LNG contracts since April, with a full embargo due next year. Yet, as Bloomberg notes, the opposite is happening on the ground:

Member states should be reducing their Russian LNG purchases, since short-term agreements were banned in April and a total embargo takes effect next year. Instead, cargo volumes have climbed sharply, as buyers look for alternatives to Middle East deliveries.

Qatar, meanwhile, has postponed the restart of output at the world's largest LNG complex after an attack on one of its tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. The country plans to reduce both its LNG production and its orders for tankers. That could heighten competition between European and Asian importers for the limited gas still available globally.

With markets this tight, the next moves by EU governments will be crucial for the region's energy security. Diversifying supply routes and securing alternative sources have shifted from long-term aspirations to urgent necessities. As global competition for LNG intensifies, keeping Europe's energy systems stable may force difficult trade-offs among member states.