Unpacking Belgium's Disturbing Silence on Blocking Russian LNG

Last night's air attacks across Ukraine, which killed four innocent civilians and wounded dozens more, serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for a united front against those supporting the aggressor, particularly when it comes to fossil fuel exports that fund Russia's war chest.

Yet, as we looked at the news this morning, a disheartening and weak statement emerged from Tinne Van der Straeten, Belgium's Energy Minister, regarding the uncertainty of blocking access for Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Belgian gas infrastructure using an option provided by the EU, leaving Belgium in the reprehensible position of contributing to the Kremlin’s war chest.

A reform of EU gas market rules, agreed upon last year, is expected to enable EU countries to halt deliveries of Russian pipeline gas and LNG. This would be achieved by providing them with a legal option to prevent Russian firms from booking capacity on their gas infrastructure. Nevertheless, Belgium's energy minister expressed spineless uncertainty, stating, "It is not entirely clear if we can work with that."

Half of the Russian LNG entering the port of Zeebrugge could be banned tomorrow without consulting other EU member states, as it goes to non-EU markets using Zeebrugge as a transshipment hub. At Fluxys LNG terminal, Russian ice-class LNG tankers offload their cargo to be picked up by any conventional LNG carriers going to China or India.

It’s beyond appalling that Belgium's Zeebrugge port, a vital gateway to world markets for Russian gas, remains wide open despite its role in fueling Russia's war. The argument for pre-war contracts sounds feeble when faced with the devastating consequences of supporting the death of innocent Ukrainians. We must consider the larger picture by allowing Russian LNG to flow freely to Europe and worldwide. The Belgian government is supporting the aggressor responsible for the ongoing devastation in Ukraine.

The EU has ample alternatives to Russian gas, record gas stocks, and falling demand due to the growing deployment of cost-effective clean-energy renewables and energy efficiency improvements. With alternative LNG supplies from the US reaching record numbers last year, the EU's energy security is not compromised by a potential ban on Russian LNG. There's simply no excuse for Belgium not to ban Russian LNG transshipment now, and it's time to question the motives behind this reluctance. Moreover, given favourable gas market conditions, Belgium could also fully ban access to gas infrastructure for any Russian LNG in agreement with neighbouring countries.

Russia's Novatek should not hold an upper hand over Belgium's and Europe's energy security. The EU must decisively ban the export of vital technology and equipment for Russian projects, enforce export control, and take strict actions against companies violating such bans.

As the EU's third-largest importer of Russian LNG, Belgium holds significant influence. The recent 57% rise in Belgian imports of Russian LNG in December should be viewed as a call to action, necessitating immediate measures to reassess our energy dependencies. Any move to restrict Russian LNG imports should involve consultations with neighbouring countries, but Belgium cannot use this as an excuse for blocking the progress of successful efforts to dry up European funding of Putin’s war chest.

Not acting against Russian LNG exports means directly contributing to the financial sustenance of the aggressor, perpetuating the ongoing destruction. Belgium’s gas company Fluxys, which continues cooperation with Novatek with the implicit consent of the Belgian government, must reassess its role in facilitating Russian LNG exports immediately.

Belgium has the opportunity to demonstrate leadership in the EU's commitment to international security and climate action. By taking a decisive stand against Russian LNG, Belgium can contribute to a united front that weakens Putin’s economy, accelerating an end to the war and promoting a shift towards clean, renewable energy.

In these challenging times, bold decisions are needed to ensure that our actions align with our values and aspirations for a world free from the shackles of fossil fuel-funded conflicts.

Authors: Svitlana Romako, Founder and Director of Razom We Stand & Oleh Savytskyi, Campaign Manager, Razom We Stand.

 Razom We Stand is a Ukrainian organisation active internationally, calling for a total and permanent embargo on Russian fossil fuels and an immediate end to all investment into Russian oil and gas companies by phasing out fossil fuels globally.

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