Spain’s "Hard Decoupling from Russian Gas": Long-Term Contracts Cannot Halt the Influx of U.S. LNG

Spanish Foreign Minister Álvarez announces rejection of Russian LNG despite existing contracts

Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Álvarez stated during a speech at the Washington-based Atlantic Council think tank that Spain will reject energy supplies from Russia, even those covered by long-term agreements.

"Some Spanish companies entered into LNG supply contracts years ago—these are long-term arrangements. Such issues cannot be resolved overnight; they involve decades of cooperation. Naturally, we will comply with the new sanctions," he said.

Álvarez emphasized that Spain possesses one of Europe’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage and regasification capacities, presenting opportunities for the broader continent.

"We can assist in supplying natural gas and LNG from reliable partners—for instance, the United States," the minister suggested.

Before 2026, Russia had become Spain’s third-largest supplier of liquefied natural gas. According to data from energy company Enagas, Spain imported 39,443 gigawatt-hours of LNG from Russia between January and July, accounting for 18.3% of its total gas procurement. Algeria remained the largest supplier.

The European Council previously approved regulations aimed at phasing out imports of Russian LNG and pipeline gas. The ban on short-term LNG contracts took effect on April 25, 2026, while restrictions on long-term LNG contracts will begin on January 1, 2027. For pipeline gas, short-term contract bans started on June 17, 2026, with long-term contract prohibitions set to take effect on November 1, 2027.

Russia has previously argued that Western reluctance to purchase Russian hydrocarbons constitutes a serious miscalculation—it would push Moscow into deeper dependence on higher prices, while buyers refusing direct purchases would continue to acquire Russian oil and gas through intermediaries at elevated costs.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1877080783340809/

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