EU pays about €8.7 billion for Yamal LNG in first 10 months of 2026
October payments increased despite lower shipment volumes, as the bloc approaches a January ban on Russian gas imports.
EU spending on liquefied natural gas from Russia's Arctic Yamal project reached about €8.7 billion during January–October 2026, sanctions-monitoring NGO Urgewald said on Nov. 12. Citing Kpler data, the group said the amount exceeded spending for all of 2025 by more than one-fifth.
The purchases continued ahead of a full EU ban on Russian gas imports due to take effect in January. The measure is part of European efforts to reduce dependence on Russian energy and curb the Kremlin's wartime revenue.
Urgewald put October purchases of Yamal LNG at 705,591 metric tons, an 11% decline from September. Payments nevertheless increased by 2.6% over the same period because prices rose, the NGO said.
France accounted for 70% of EU purchases in October. French ports received seven cargoes, while Spain received two and the Netherlands one. Urgewald recorded no deliveries at Belgium's Zeebrugge terminal from August through October.
Separately, the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air said EU imports of Russian LNG rose by 60% in September compared with August's record low. The think tank said the bloc remained Russia's largest LNG customer, taking almost half its exports.
