Purchasing decisions Spain buys Russian gas

STATISTICS show that last year Spain increased its dependence on Russian gas, despite their invasion of Ukraine.

Figures have been released which show Spain was the second largest buyer of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Europe during 2022, with 3.72 million tonnes, a 51 per cent increase more than the previous year, according to a news source on Friday, July 14.

The International LNG Importers Group, which brings together the main importing companies, such as Naturgy or Iberdrola, released its annual report last Friday. Spain came second behind France, which import­ ed 5.24 million tonnes, compared to 3.59 million a year earlier.

France and Spain were also the ones that saw the most increased imports by ship, despite the political will expressed to reduce dependence on hydrocarbons from Russia due to the war in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the United States was by far and away the leading exporter of LNG to Europe. It sold 51.74 million tonnes in 2022, compared with 21.47 million tonnes the previous year. Second place, just ahead of Russia, went to Qatar, which exported 18.72 million tonnes to Europe, compared with 15.99 million tonnes in 2021.