The European Union will seek to intensify cooperation with African countries to replace Russian gas imports and reduce energy dependence on Russia by almost two-thirds this year. In particular, Nigeria, Senegal and Angola are of interest – countries offering significant untapped potential of liquefied natural gas. The EU assumes that the document envisaging the expansion of external energy cooperation can be adopted by the European Commission as early as the end of May. According to the plan, the EU intends to increase LNG imports from other countries by 50 billion cubic meters and increase pipeline gas supplies by 10 billion cubic meters. To do this, the region needs to establish relationships with traditional suppliers on a new basis and expand trade with new emerging suppliers. The main stages of the project involve the full implementation of the agreement with the United States on the supply of an additional 15 billion cubic meters of LNG in 2022 and about 50 billion cubic meters annually until 2030. It is also envisaged to sign a trilateral memorandum of understanding with Egypt and Israel to increase LNG supplies to Europe by the summer of this year. The European Union also plans to increase the capacity of the Southern Gas Corridor, through which gas is delivered from Azerbaijan, to 20 billion cubic meters per year.
