France plans extra LNG import capacity, persists with renewable gases future

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France has, at 25.6 mtpa, Europe’s third largest LNG import capacity after Spain and the UK. Though the country relies less on Russia than other European countries for the pipeline gas it receives (2.6 Bcm, or 10%, in 2020, compared to Germany’s 56.3 Bcm, or 55.1%, according to BP data), it too is looking to increase its LNG import capacity in a bid to alleviate its security of supply concerns.

France’s demand for more LNG became apparent in Q1 ‘22: the country recorded the largest year-on-year increase in LNG imports in Europe that quarter, receiving 6.19 mt – up by 3.28 mt, or 112.7%, from Q1 ‘21. Meanwhile, plans to increase the country’s LNG import capacity would not only benefit France, but also the wider north-west European region, members of the French LNG sector say.