Russia’s war in Ukraine | CNN”>Ukraine Scores Energy Victory With First US LNG Delivery, Despite Russian Sabotage
Ukraine has taken a strategic step in bolstering its energy security with the first delivery of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States, according to DTEK, a major Ukrainian energy holding company. The milestone shipment, amounting to roughly 100 million cubic meters of gas or 1 terawatt-hour of energy, arrived at Greece‘s Revithoussa LNG terminal on December 27, marking a significant move in reducing dependence on Russian gas, particularly amid ongoing hostilities.
"This is not just a cargo; it’s a strategic move," an industry source close to the matter revealed. Despite Russia‘s relentless efforts to disrupt Ukraine’s energy system during the war, this achievement stands tall as another triumph on the energy front.
The LNG, carried by the "Gaslog Savannah" vessel, was purchased in its entirety by D.TRADING, DTEK’s European trading arm. Post-regasification, the gas will traverse European and Ukrainian gas networks, integrating European allies in the process. This is part of a broader strategy to enhance Ukraine and Europe‘s energy resilience by diversifying gas supplies.
DTEK expects the initial delivery to be the first of many, with plans to expand its LNG activities to northern Europe and the Baltic region. The route via Greece is necessitated by wartime constraints on Black Sea LNG transits, relying instead on re-gasification terminals and cross-border pipelines like the "Vertical Corridor" initiative, connecting Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Moldova, and Ukraine.
Previously, Qatar had threatened to halt LNG supplies to Europe if its state-backed QatarEnergy faced penalties due to the EU’s sustainability directive. However, this latest development underscores Europe’s commitment to securing diverse energy sources, even in conflict-stricken regions.
