Netherlands Continues to Import Russian LNG in 2026

(MENAFN) The Netherlands continued purchasing liquefied natural gas from Russia in the opening quarter of 2026, with Russian LNG accounting for 12 percent of the country's total imports — a figure that has caught energy analysts off guard amid the European Union's sustained drive to sever reliance on Russian energy.

The data, published by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) and reported by NOS News on Wednesday, revealed that the Netherlands is one of five EU member states that kept buying Russian LNG during the period, alongside Spain, France, Belgium, and Portugal.

The scale of continued purchases drew a candid reaction from energy expert Jilles van den Beukel. "That is really much more than I had expected," van den Beukel told media.

Shipping data underscored the ongoing flow of Russian energy into Europe's largest port. Some 44 LNG tankers from the U.S. and six from Russia reportedly docked at the Port of Rotterdam during the first three months of the year, though the ultimate European destination of some shipments remains unclear.

The figures emerge as the EU presses ahead with plans to eliminate Russian LNG imports entirely. A formal ban is set to take effect from early 2027, with restrictions on Russian pipeline gas expected to follow in autumn 2026. New gas supply contracts with Russia are already prohibited under existing measures, though legacy long-term agreements remain active in the interim.

According to IEEFA, LNG has cemented its role as a cornerstone of Europe's energy security architecture, with the U.S. rapidly ascending as a dominant supplier to the continent.

On the domestic front, Dutch state-owned Energie Beheer Nederland has earmarked €20 billion — nearly 21.6 billion dollars — to bolster gas storage replenishment efforts, as commercial operators remain reluctant to commit amid market uncertainty.

The disclosures come shortly after the EU formally adopted its 20th sanctions package against Russia on April 23 — the most expansive set of individual listings in two years — featuring 120 new designations targeting Russia's energy sector, military-industrial complex, and financial services, including cryptocurrency operations. The 27-member bloc also imposed transaction bans on 20 Russian banks, barred services to Russian LNG tankers and icebreakers, and blacklisted 46 additional "shadow fleet" vessels, raising the total number of sanctioned ships to 632.

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