Iran war could reopen EU debate over Russian gas, Norway says

The impact on energy flows of U.S. and Israeli military attacks on Iran and Iran’s drone ​and missile launches against its neighbours could reopen ‌debate in the European Union over banning Russian natural gas imports, Norway’s energy minister said on Tuesday.

European gas prices have jumped 75% ​this week, hitting multi-year highs as hostilities in ​and around Iran have impacted gas exports from ⁠the Gulf.

Major liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter Qatar halted production ​on Monday.

“The EU has been very clear that they want ​to liberate themselves from Russian oil and gas, but then the events of the last three-four days have also been difficult,” Norway’s ​Energy Minister Terje Aasland told a conference in Oslo.

“With ​the geopolitical situation we see now, I believe the debate will be ‌revived,” ⁠Aasland said.

European Union countries last month gave final approval to a ban on gas imports by late 2027 from Russia, their former top supplier, some four years after Moscow’s ​invasion of Ukraine.

Norway ​is Europe’s ⁠biggest gas producer, meeting around 30% of demand. It also supplies about 20% of ​the continent’s oil.

An Iranian Revolutionary Guards senior official ​said ⁠on Monday that Iran would fire on any ship trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz at the southern ⁠end ​of the Gulf.

Tankers from Qatar, which ​produces about 20% of the world’s supply of LNG, use that route.