However, there appears to be little appetite by the German government, at least publicly, to push for such a ban. Germany did not join a recent coalition of ten EU states calling for an immediate ban of Russian LNG.
Whitewashing Russian LNG
The lack of transparency of the EU gas system enables the “whitewashing” of Russian LNG, the researchers conclude.
“For example, Russian LNG imported via Belgium to Germany is labelled as gas from Belgium in the official German gas import data, even though there is no such thing as Belgian gas,” the report highlights.
The imprecise book keeping by design allows each EU member state to deflect responsibility for the continued imports of Russian LNG and instead point fingers at neighboring states.
The report presents three different scenarios – a base case, an export case, and a worst-case – to calculate how much Russian LNG eventually ends up in Germany.
On the low end Germany relies on Russian LNG for 3 percent of its gas needs, with 4.2 percent in the export case and 9.2 percent in the worst case scenario.
To gain more clarity over the ultimate destination of Russian LNG once it enters the EU system, the report advocates for a gas tracking system; an approach also supported by Belgian officials.
Improved statistical record keeping including the origin of gas imports would also help clarify who ultimately consumes gas delivered in the form of Russian LNG.