These regulations came into force on March 18, although exceptions remain for companies having signed contracts over several years, with deadlines set for January 1, 2027 for liquefied natural gas and September 2027 for gas transported by pipeline. In February 2026, American and Israeli strikes on Iran, followed by aftershocks on many Gulf states, led to the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz and the destruction of several gas terminals in the region.
This mode of transport was favored because it is much more fluid and flexible by boat, pipelines being much more subject to geopolitical hazards and requiring very heavy infrastructure.
The diversification of imports advocated by the International Energy Agency could, however, relieve consumers' gas bills.
From 2022, Russia had already decided to significantly reduce its gas exports to Europe, which were mainly provided via pipelines or gas pipelines.
According to the German NGO Urgewald, imports from the Yamal terminal, from which the vast majority of Russian LNG sent to the EU comes, increased by 9.5% over the period from January to September 2026, compared to the same period last year.