17 Feb, 15:23

Slovakia paid for Russian pipeline gas the most in two years in December 2024

In December 2024, EU countries imported Russian pipeline gas for 927.4 mln euro

MOSCOW, February 17. /TASS/. In December 2024, Slovakia paid the most in two years for Russian pipeline gas in anticipation of stopping transit through Ukraine, according to Eurostat data and TASS calculations.

In December 2024, EU countries imported Russian pipeline gas for 927.4 mln euro.

The top buyers were Italy (277.4 mln euro - the most since September 2024), Hungary (254 mln euro), and Slovakia (198 mln euro - the most since December 2022). Statistics for Austria are not published, and Greece increased gas imports from Russia to the highest level in two years - 181 mln euro.

In December 2024, the European Union purchased Russian pipeline gas for 927.4 mln euro and liquefied natural gas (LNG) for 917.4 mln euro. Both figures were the highest since the beginning of 2023.

In December 2024, EU countries paid more than 917 mln euro for LNG from Russia - 52% more than in November of the same year, and 38% more than in December 2023. This figure was the highest since January 2023, when more than 1.3 bln euro were spent on Russian LNG supplies. The main importers were France (402.9 mln euro - the highest since December 2022), Spain (198.8 mln euro), and Belgium (137.9 mln euro - the highest since October 2023). The Netherlands reduced its LNG purchases from Russia by 15.5% compared to November - to 98.5 mln euro.

The EU also imported Russian pipeline gas in December for 927.4 mln euro.

In total, the European Union bought gas from Russia for around 1.84 bln euro in December, 45% more than in the previous month and 41% more than in December 2023.

In total, the European Union paid 7.6 bln euro for pipeline gas from Russia in 2024, compared to 7.9 bln euro the year before. LNG purchases from Russia amounted to 7.2 bln euro last year, compared to 8.1 bln euro in 2023. The main buyers of LNG were France (3.1 bln euro), Spain (2 bln euro), and Belgium (1.1 bln euro). The Netherlands purchased Russian LNG for 749 mln euro.

According to the RePower EU program, the European Union intends to reduce its dependence on Russian oil and gas by two-thirds by the end of 2022 and reduce it to zero by the end of 2027.

At the same time, the price of purchasing Russian LNG for the European Union has increased by 150% in three years due to an increase in prices and volumes of LNG supplies from Russia.

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