Gas|The connecting pipe passing through Imatra could be closed for a limited period if the situation required.
from Russia and there are new restrictions on the import of natural gas and liquefied natural gas imported from Belarus.
The Ministry of Labor and the Economy has sent out a statement of the billwhich would limit deliveries of gas originating in Russia or Belarus to the Finnish natural gas network via connecting pipes or terminals.
In addition, the Natural Gas Market Act will be amended so that the connection pipe connected to the Finnish natural gas network could be closed for a specified period to prevent a threat to the gas network. In practice, this applies to the connection pipe that runs through Imatra, through which no more gas has been brought to Finland after spring 2022.
Proposed the aim of the temporary law is to limit the income Russia and Belarus receive from the gas trade from the Finnish market and thus limit their ability to finance warfare.
According to the ministry, the aim is therefore to protect Finland’s key security interests. In addition, the presentation aims to protect Finland from Russia’s hybrid influence and to improve energy reliability.
Finland’s natural gas market is largely closed to Russian imports.
According to Statistics Finland, the share of Russian natural gas and liquefied natural gas in total imports to Finland was only 13 percent last year, while it was still 66 percent in 2022 and 89 percent in 2021. Imports from the United States and Norway have increased.
The new restrictions are not expected to affect the Finnish gas market or the price of gas in Finland in practice. Natural gas is mainly used in industry and in wintertime for energy production.