Despite the EU’s declarations about moving away from Russian raw materials, imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia to Europe are breaking records. A key role in this process is played by the Belgian terminal in Zeebrugge, which has become one of the main transit hubs for Russian LNG.
Brussels announces an embargo from 2027
An increasing amount of liquefied natural gas from Russia is flowing through the Belgian port of Zeebrugge. According to Belgian media, in the first half of 2025, as much as 42 percent of LNG imported through the terminal came from Russian sources, more than before the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. According to data from the Belgian Statistical Office (FOD Economie), Russian gas currently accounts for the largest share of imports via Zeebrugge. By comparison, Qatar supplied 20 percent and the United States 33 percent of the total.
The European Union has imposed a ban on the re-export of Russian LNG outside Europe but has not prohibited its use by member states. As a result, Russian companies, including Novatek, have redirected their supply routes and begun sending more gas to the EU market. The Zeebrugge terminal is operated by the Belgian company Fluxys, which has a contract with the Russian consortium Yamal LNG valid until 2040. The agreement covers both the transshipment terminal and the transmission infrastructure.
“We will carefully analyze the impact of the new regulations. Our priority is to maintain the continuity of energy supplies for Belgium and Europe,”
said company spokesperson Thierry Vervenne.
The European Commission plans to introduce a complete ban on imports of Russian LNG starting January 1, 2027. At that point, EU member states will have the option to invoke a “force majeure” clause to terminate existing contracts with Russian companies. However, analysts at Oxford Analytica warn that such an interpretation may be legally questionable. In their view, terminating long-term contracts, such as the one between Fluxys and Yamal LNG, could lead to costly legal disputes and compensation claims.