Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat reported on January 5 that the Finnish government plans to stop importing Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) by 2025.
Finland’s Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Kai Mikkanen, said: “The government is preparing for a ban on Russian LNG imports into Finland to come into force in 2025.”
The ban could be triggered through EU gas market reforms, which were given the green light in early December. Mikkanen acknowledged that it would be difficult to reach agreement on new sanctions within the energy sector.
Also read: The first part of Finland’s national plan for the reconstruction of Ukraine is announced
“It would be easier if the EU jointly decided on this issue, but some member states are not participating in this,” Mikenen said.
“The reality is that such decisions are not easily taken within the EU.”
Finland’s state-run gas company Gasum continued to import LNG from Russia during Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, citing contractual obligations and a long-standing gas supply agreement with Russia’s Gazprom.
Also read: Finland announces $117 million military aid plan to Ukraine
Gasum says it has only purchased the minimum amount of gas stipulated in the agreement from Gazprom since the start of the war, without disclosing details such as the length of the agreement or the minimum purchase amount.
In 2023, Finland continued to import Russian natural gas every month. The value of these imports will be 100 million yen per month until Russia suspends pipeline gas supplies to Finland in May 2022, as Russia did not comply with Russian demands to switch to a new gas payment system in rubles. It was over EUR ($110 million).
Finland continues to import LNG from Russia through the Uusikaupunki port terminal, which is 51% owned by the Russian company Novatek and the remaining 49% owned by Russian gas monopoly Gazprom. There is.
We bring Ukraine’s voice to the world. Support us with a one-time donation or become a Patron!
Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine