Greenpeace says it prevented a tanker from discharging Russian LNG at Finnish state-owned Gasum’s terminal at Nynashamn on Sweden’s east coast.
It said a Greenpeace vessel and activists in kayaks outside the loading dock had prevented the Anthony Veder-owned 15,600-cbm LNG carrier Coral Energy (built 2012) from docking, while other activists had climbed into the cranes used to unload the gas.
Greenpeace called on the Swedish government to stop the import of Russian LNG immediately.
“The fact Russian fossil gas is still allowed to flow into Sweden, more than six months after President Vladimir Putin began his blood-stained invasion of Ukraine, is unacceptable,” said Karolina Carlsson, campaign leader at Greenpeace Nordic.
“The parliament has given the Swedish government a clear mandate to stop all imports of Russian energy to Sweden and it is Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson’s obligation to act on this.”
Greenpeace claims that since the war began, Sweden has received around 100,000 cbm of LNG from Vysotsk in Russia.
It estimates the value of Russian LNG that has been imported to Sweden during the first six months of the war at SEK 1.7bn ($160m).
Europe has responded to the invasion with a push for alternative energy supplies and an array of sanctions, including bans on Russian oil and coal imports, but LNG shipments are not subject to those sanctions.
A Gasum spokeswoman said it had informed the Swedish authorities of the situation, and police were present at the terminal.
“We had been preparing for this type of activism in Nynashamn terminal together with local authorities and other stakeholders,” she added.
Gasum said it has a long-term take-or-pay LNG supply contract with Gazprom Export and currently Gasum has “no legal basis to end the contract or take it to arbitration”.
“We procure part of our LNG from Russia, but the majority of the LNG comes from Norway and globally through terminals in Central Europe,” the spokeswoman said.
“LNG deliveries from Russia are currently not sanctioned by the EU or any country Gasum operates in. Gasum always complies with applicable sanctions and restrictions.
“However, we must also take into account especially our … customers’ situation, their security of supply and our obligation to supply them with gas. Even in [a] crisis situation, we have an obligation to secure the supply of energy.”
Gasum said the Coral Energy is waiting outside Nynashamn until it is safe to operate in the harbour again.
