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This is stated in a report by the Institute of Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), Ukrinform reports.
“France has such a large share of LNG imports because it operates five regasification terminals,” explains Ana Maria Jaller-Makarevich, an analyst at IEEFA.
According to her, the fuel is most likely then exported to Germany, whose capacity remains half that of France. For example, last year the Dunkirk terminal received 27% of all European imports of liquefied gas.
Overall, the report says, 85% of Russian LNG imports to Europe come through France, Spain and Belgium. The EU's main LNG supplier is the US, while imports from the US, Qatar and Algeria fell last year, while imports from Russia increased by 18%.
Analysts also note that gas consumption on the continent has overall decreased by 20% over the past three years, thanks to the use of renewable energy sources and reduced demand.
However, the EU continues to buy Russian LNG to compensate for the gas that used to come through pipelines, most of which are now closed. This gas is transported in liquid form, unloaded at ports, regasified, and then injected into the European gas network.
