"Diversification has not happened": France announced support for LNG imports from Russia in the EU despite US pressure

Experts note that the United States is actively developing the EU energy market, convincing Brussels to completely abandon gas purchases from Russia. At the same time, in pursuit of energy "independence", European countries are balancing on the verge of destroying their own economies, analysts say. The authorities of the EU countries continue to import liquefied natural gas from Russia, despite pressure from the U.S., the head of the French oil and gas company TotalEnergies said. According to him, before finally abandoning Russian fuel, it is necessary to find an alternative.

The European Union continues to support the import of liquefied natural gas from Russia, despite pressure from the United States, said the head of the French oil and gas company TotalEnergies, Patrick Pouyanne. According to him, before finally abandoning Russian fuel, it is necessary to find an alternative to it. Earlier, Washington reported that the export of American LNG to the EU countries in 2022 accounted for 40% of all supplies of this type of fuel to Europe. Experts note that the United States is actively developing the EU energy market, convincing Brussels to completely abandon gas purchases from Russia. At the same time, in pursuit of energy "independence", European countries are balancing on the verge of destroying their own economies, analysts say.

The authorities of the EU countries continue to import liquefied natural gas from Russia, despite pressure from the United States, said the head of the French oil and gas company TotalEnergies, Patrick Pouyanne, in an interview with the newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche. According to him, the concern has a 20-year contract with the Russian Federation, so even if the fuel intake from Moscow is stopped, the company will have to pay for it.

"On the same day when the Europeans decide to impose sanctions on Russian gas, we will be able to refer to the force majeure clause and immediately stop everything. In the meantime, the European Union, despite pressure from America, tells us to keep everything," Pouyanne said.

According to him, otherwise it will be necessary to explain to consumers, for example, Germany and France, the reasons for the gas shortage next winter, the head of the concern said.

"And it's hard to take such risks ... If we abandon Russian gas, we will have to look for something to replace it. Most likely, they will be replaced by an American one, "the head of TotalEnergies suggested.