EU may introduce full embargo on EU imports of fossil fuels and uranium

The EU may include a full embargo on EU imports of fossil fuels and uranium from Russia as part of a tenth sanctions package, the European Parliament said in a statement Feb. 2.

"MEPs call on member states to adopt a tenth package of sanctions against Moscow as soon as possible and to continuously and proactively propose new sectors and individuals for targeting," the statement said.

MEPs are calling for Russian companies such as Lukoil and Rosatom that are still present on the EU market, to be sanctioned.

Lukoil's business in Europe has already been significantly affected by Western sanctions, which were introduced in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

In January it agreed to sell its 321,000 b/d ISAB refinery in Italy to G.O.I. Energy, an energy arm of Argus New Energy Fund.

It continues to own and operate the 150,000 b/d Burgas refinery in Bulgaria. However, in mid-January Bulgarian lawmakers voted for a provision to take over Burgas for up to a year if necessary, as part of measures safeguarding infrastructure and fuel supplies.

Lukoil owns the 48,000 b/d Petrotel refinery in Ploiesti, Romania. Romanian media previously reported that Kazakhstan was interested in acquiring Petrotel.

Lukoil also has a share in the 180,000 b/d Zeeland refinery in the Netherlands, which it co-owns with TotalEnergies.

MEPs have also proposed that the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines be completely abandoned. The controversial network was designed to ship Russian gas to Germany via the Baltic Sea. Currently no volumes are being supplied via the route.

Germany suspended certification of Nord Stream 2 in February 2022 due to escalating tensions over Ukraine.

Russia has gradually reduced its gas supply to Europe since the war began and totally halted deliveries via Nord Stream on Aug. 31.

Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 were then hit by sabotage attacks on Sept. 26.

Related podcast: The future of naphtha and diesel flows after EU sanctions

Rosatom

To date nuclear has not been included in wide-ranging sanctions targeting the Russian economy and energy sector.

In early January the Ukrainian government said it had stepped up efforts to persuade the EU to impose sanctions on Rosatom in response to its role in seizing Ukrainian energy assets.

Within days of the Russian invasion, Russian forces captured the 6-GW Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant -- Europe's largest.

All six units at Zaporizhzhia have been shut since September due to security concerns about fighting and shelling in the area. The plant is getting about 100 MW of power supplies for cooling from the Ukrainian power grid.

Ukraine has a total nuclear generation capacity of 13,835 MW, but that capacity is effectively 7,835 MW following the seizure of Zaporizhzhia by the Russian army.

Ukrainian officials said previously that they wanted to increase the country's nuclear power generating capacity by 2 GW, and increase renewables to account for 30% of its power mix by 2030.

Ukraine plans to commission two Westinghouse AP1000s at the Khmelnitski nuclear plant in western Ukraine by 2029. This is part of a $30 billion long-term program agreed with the US in 2021.

Two Russia-designed VVER-1000s with a total capacity of 2 GW currently operate at Khmelnitski. The units were commissioned in 1987 and 2004.