EU MPs push to end Russian LNG imports, eye biogas potential
Members of Parliament from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Poland have called on EU authorities to stop importing liquefied natural gas from Russia as soon as possible. They seek to strengthen relations with suppliers from other parts of the world.
By continuing to purchase LNG from Russia, the EU maintains its dependency on a country that uses energy as a "hybrid weapon and a tool of manipulation. " The joint statement from the MPs of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Poland emphasized that this undermines the unity of the EU and diminishes public trust.
The declaration published by the Estonian parliament (Riigikogu) was directed to the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the parliaments and governments of member states.
The signatories pointed out that the LNG terminals that have been built and those that are planned should fulfill their original purpose, i.e., the diversification of raw material sources, including the cessation of imports from Russia, and not the other way around.
"Every euro paid to Russia for energy helps finance its war against Ukraine and poses a direct threat to the EU," declared the MPs, simultaneously calling for further diplomatic efforts to strengthen cooperation with reliable energy suppliers from Central Asia, the Middle East, the USA, and Norway.
Biogas can help reduce gas imports. but there are some "buts"
Meanwhile, an alternative to importing gas from Russia could be the production of biogas. Although the scale of production is not sufficient for biogas to fully replace natural gas from Russia, it can be an important element in diversifying the energy mix.
