Port Zeebrugge imported more than 50% of LNG from Russia in 2023

In 2023, more than half of the LNG delivered to the Zeebrugge terminal came from Russia.

In January-December 2023, 51% of LNG delivered to Zeebrugge by gas carriers came from Russia, Gospodarka Morska reports.

According to gas network operator Fluxys, Belgium imported a total of 120 terawatt-hours (TWh) of LNG last year. 29% came from Qatar and 15% from the USA.

Most of the Russian LNG arriving in Zeebrugge is destined for transhipment and is immediately shipped to other destinations.

Fluxys data also shows that last year Belgium exported twice as much gas to other countries as it consumed (357 TWh). The main recipient is Germany (212 TWh). Total gas consumption fell to 152.1 TWh last year, the lowest figure since 1997.

In August, the NGO Global Witness found that Europe imported more LNG in 2023 than in 2022, with Belgium the EU’s third-largest buyer. In October, about 20 Ukrainian and Belgian organizations protested in Brussels, demanding a ban on transshipment of Russian LNG in Europe.