The G7 and the EU will not allow the restart of Russian exports natural gas to countries such as Poland and Germany, where Moscow cut off supplies last year and provoked energy crisis throughout Europe.

According to the FT, the decision should be finalized by the leaders of the G7 at the summit in Hiroshima next week. One of the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the move was “so that the partners don’t change their minds in the future.”

A draft G7 communiqué seen by the Financial Times says the group of leading economies will continue to reduce the use of Russian energy sources, “including preventing the reopening of previously closed routes, at least until the conflict is resolved.”

A non-G7 European official said the move is intended in part to support liquefied natural gas infrastructure projects in both Europe and North America.

While these measures are unlikely to have an immediate impact on gas flows, they highlight Brussels’ deep determination to make permanent the quick and painful end of decades of dependence on Russian energy.

Moscow’s share of European gas exports has fallen from more than 40% to less than 10%, and a mild winter has boosted EU gas supplies.

Officials are confident that natural gas storage, which is already about 60 percent full compared to about 30 percent at the same time in 2022, will reach capacity well before next winter.

Source: Financial Times.