Document shows EU countries want more transparency about Russian gas imports

In a letter to the European Commission on Monday, a group of EU member states including France and the Baltic States asked for tighter reporting requirements across the EU on Russian LNG imports.

In June, the EU approved a 14th set of sanctions that included a prohibition on the trans-shipment of Russian LNG in its ports. Moscow has used European ports for transshipment onto other vessels bound for Asia.

Imports of Russian LNG were not banned. Several EU countries continue to receive Russian pipeline gas via Ukraine and Turkey.

In the past few years, the imports of Russian gas to Europe has increased in Belgium and the Netherlands. This is where the majority of transshipments used to occur. Belgium has called on stronger measures.

The document stated that "We believe it is important to ensure full disclosure of imports of Russian LNG and the identities of the natural gas suppliers who import Russian gas."

The countries also want the commission "to strengthen reporting obligations for Russian LNG unloading operations," because public data don't give a "complete picture."

The package contains a period of winding down until March. Before then, the EU wants the commission to suggest stronger reporting rules.

This would include asking LNG operators to provide information about the proportion of Russian LNG in reloaded shipments and storage operators monitor LNG origin.

The document was signed by Lithuania, Austria. Czech Republic, Finland. Estonia, Latvia. Luxembourg. Reporting by Julia Payne, Editing by Mark Porter

(source: Reuters)