European gas lobby groups representing Total, Shell and Eni reject call to back EU plans to quit Russian gas, 1 April 2022

The EU’s two largest gas lobby groups which represent Europe’s biggest gas companies including Shell, Total and Eni have rejected a call to back EU leaders’ commitments to exiting Russian energy by 2027. Meanwhile, Global Witness has also uncovered links between the lobby groups’ members and the Putin regime, and their members’ ongoing investments in Russia.

Both groups, Eurogas and Gas Infrastructure Europe, when asked directly by Global Witness, did not  confirm their support for the EU ending imports of Russian oil and gas by 2027. This is despite the position being agreed by heads of state at a March 11 summit in Versailles.

Eurogas said that they were only “analysing” the proposal, although they had had sufficient time to conclude that they “fully support” the objectives on hydrogen and biomethane.
Gas Infrastructure Europe also did not support the position, noting instead that the organisation “can provide solutions for diversification of supply routes”...

Eurogas’ and Gas Infrastructure Europe’s positions were revealed after a Global Witness investigation into their members’ commercial and political interests in Russia.

Gas Infrastructure Europe has not cut ties with its members which are subsidiaries of Gazprom – both Gazprom Germania and Astora remain members, meaning that Gazprom retains representation at the heart of the EU gas lobby. Gazprom has been sanctioned by several jurisdictions including the EU since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.

Eurogas members retain substantial investments in Russia. It represents TotalEnergies, which is refusing to exit its Russian gas operations despite pressure from investment funds and threats of legal challenges...