Germany Bans Russian LNG From Its Ports

Russian exports could be seriously affected.

The German government has banned state-owned LNG terminals from receiving gas from Russia, as this runs counter to the country's interests and its desire to completely wean itself off Russia in the energy sector. Russian LNG exports as a whole could be affected by trade agreements between the European Union and the new US presidential administration.

Deutsche Energy Terminal has informed the government that its terminal in Brunsbüttel is preparing to receive cargo from Russia on Sunday. In response, the Ministry of Economy issued instructions “not to accept any deliveries of Russian LNG... and to refuse their acceptance until further notice,” according to a letter seen by the Financial Times.

The ban was adopted in order to protect “the public interest”, the document says. Allowing LNG from Russia would go against the very idea of building import terminals, which is to make Germany and the EU as a whole “independent of Russian gas,” the Economy Ministry said.

After losing Russian pipeline gas in 2022, Germany quickly built several LNG import terminals. So far, they have not received Russian fuel, although the German company Sefe has a long-term contract to purchase it from Yamal LNG. But according to Kpler, it sends almost all volumes to a terminal in France, which, after regasification, transports the gas via pipelines to other European countries. Germany began receiving pipeline gas from France in October 2022.

France, Spain and Belgium are the main recipients of Russian LNG. The companies that import it operate under long-term contracts and can stop fulfilling them only in the event of a pan-European ban. So far, only Belgium has called for such a ban. But LNG could become a bargaining chip in trade talks between the EU and the administration of new US President Donald Trump, who is determined to advance the international interests of American energy companies. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen already said last Friday:

“We still get a lot of LNG from Russia, why not replace it with American LNG, which is cheaper for us and reduces our energy prices? We can certainly discuss this issue.”

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