LSEG data on Thursday showed that at least three LNG-laden tanks appeared to have diverted from the Zeebrugge LNG Terminal in Belgium as Greenpeace activists protested against European Union imports.

The second largest European importer is Russia, with 2.3 million tons of Russian LNG in the first eight month of this year. This was behind France, which received 4 million tons during the same period.

Analysts at LSEG said that the Megara, the Rias Baixas Knutsen and the LNG Phecda - both of which were carrying cargo from the United States - appeared to have altered course.

They added that the Arctic Voyager, which is coming from Norway, may also be delayed.

PROTEST TO CONTINUE TILL SUNDAY

LSEG data indicated that the Arctic Voyager was expected to arrive on Thursday evening and the three other ships over the next week.

Greenpeace began its action Wednesday afternoon. Using kayaks, liferafts, and a sailboat, they blocked the entrance to the terminal in protest of continued Russian LNG imports to the European Union despite Moscow’s war against Ukraine.

Fluxys, the terminal operator, said that the action would last until Sunday and there was no impact to the terminal's operations or output.

A spokesperson for the Port Antwerp-Bruges stated that other ships with cargo not destined to the LNG terminal were not interrupted but should proceed more cautiously due to the protests.

As a result of pressure from Donald Trump, the EU is planning to ban Russian LNG imports one year earlier than originally planned as part of the 19th package against Moscow. Reporting by Forrest Crellin from Paris, Alban Kachler in Gdansk and Marwa Rashid in London. Mark Potter is the editor.

(source: Reuters)