The German government has banned state-owned LNG terminals from receiving gas from Russia, as it runs counter to the country's interests and its desire to completely rid itself of dependence on Russia in the energy sector. Russian LNG exports in general could be affected by trade arrangements between the European Union and the new U.S. presidential administration.

Deutsche Energy Terminal informed the government that its terminal in Brunsbüttel was preparing to receive a cargo from Russia on Sunday. In response, the economy ministry instructed it “not to accept any Russian LNG shipments ... and to refuse to accept them henceforth until special notice,” according to the letter, seen by the Financial Times. 

The ban was adopted to protect the “public interest,” the document said. Allowing LNG from Russia would run counter to the very idea of building import terminals, which is to make Germany and the EU as a whole “independent of Russian gas,” the economy ministry said.

Deprived of Russian pipeline gas in 2022, Germany quickly built several imported LNG terminals. So far, they have not accepted Russian fuel, although Germany's Sefe has a long-term contract to buy it from Yamal LNG. But, according to Kpler, it sends almost all volumes to a terminal in France, which transports the gas by pipeline to other European countries after regasification. Germany began receiving pipeline gas from France in October 2022.