/ Agencia Reuters
Companies based in the European Union (EU) will be prohibited from selling Russian liquefied natural gas next year, even if the buyers are located outside the EU.
“The prohibition prevents companies from marketing Russian LNG in third countries, as it is not relevant whether the Russian LNG is destined for the EU or not,” stated a letter dated June 1 from the office of the European Energy Commissioner, Dan Jorgensen, addressed to Poten and Partners, a maritime brokerage and LNG advisory firm.
While the European Union voted to stop importing Russian gas by 2027 in response to Moscow’s war with Ukraine, several EU-based companies with long-term contracts for Russian LNG have said that these rules, together with the sanctions against Russia, do not clarify whether companies will be able to divert those cargoes to buyers outside the EU.
“The transport of Russian LNG by Union operators, regardless of its final destination, is prohibited in the context of the LNG ban,” the letter stated. A Commission spokesperson noted that the letter reflected the updated guidelines published at the end of 2025.
Last year, the EU imported 14.94 million metric tons from the Yamal LNG project in western Arctic Russia, a figure that appears to be increasing so far this year. France’s TotalEnergies, Germany’s SEFE, and Spain’s Naturgy have long-term purchase contracts.
Total, which holds a 20% stake in Yamal, stated in February that if it were prohibited from marketing that gas outside the EU, it would consider selling its stake.
Total’s CEO, Patrick Pouyanne, argued earlier this month that he had not yet received clear information on the matter from the authorities, having received conflicting legal advice.
Naturgy, in its 2025 annual report, warned that the import ban would affect purchase commitments for Russian gas worth 10.950 billion euros ($12.570 billion).
Manuel García Cobaleda, Naturgy’s general legal counsel, said in an interview in February that the EU sanctions were designed to allow companies to invoke “force majeure,” legally exempting them from the obligation to fulfill their purchase contracts.
“But, as with any case of force majeure, civil law, and the contract also stipulates, establishes that to invoke it, all parties must make efforts to mitigate damages… These mitigation efforts include, among other things, being able to send those volumes to places other than Europe,” García Cobaleda said.
A spokesperson for SEFE stated that the letter was consistent with its interpretation of the LNG ban and sanctions, and that they would comply.
Among the other shareholders of Yamal are the Russian private company Novatek (60%) and China’s CNPC (20%).
