Calls on Britain to ban Russian gas as war in Ukraine rages on

At current wholesale gas prices, the UK would spend £2.3bn on Russian gas in a year, which is £6.3m a day. Meanwhile, oil prices have risen to nearly $120 a barrel today

Calls for the UK to ban Russian gas are mounting as experts warn Britain has spent billions on imports that could fund its bloody war Ukraine.

Minister of transport Grant Shapps announced this week a ban on all Russian-owned, operated, controlled, registered or flagged ships calling at UK ports.

But, Russian Gas itself is not subject to UK sanctions and could therefore arrive on ships from other countries.

It comes amid confusion over two huge shipments of Russian gas bound for Britain.

The LNG – enough to supply the UK for up to 12 days – is on board two supertankers, which were due to dock at a terminal in Kent possibly this weekend.

One of the broadcasts was on behalf of British gas owner Centrica.

Union Unison, which said dockers were refusing to make the delivery, said today it now appeared the vessels had been diverted.

The Mirror understands that many in the energy sector want ministers to extend sanctions to gas, despite the consequences.

Meanwhile, an analysis by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit found that UK imports of Russian liquefied natural gas totaled nearly 34 TWh (terawatt hours) in 2021, after rising from around zero in 2017.

This equates to around 6% to 7% of total imports and around 4% of UK gas needs.

At current wholesale gas prices, the UK would spend £2.3bn on Russian gas in a year, which is £6.3m a day.

dr Simon Cran-McGreehin, head of analysis at the ECIU, said: “Although not at the same level as some other European countries, the UK has spent billions of pounds on Russian gas that could now be used to fund Putin’s war in Ukraine .”

On Sunday, Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s foreign minister, called for “a total embargo on Russian oil and gas” to jeopardize Moscow’s income. “Buying them now means paying for the murder of Ukrainian men, women and children,” he wrote.

Blocking Russian gas could result in even higher bills for already ailing households, as it would likely mean it would have to import from elsewhere.

Since then, wholesale gas prices have increased Russia ‘s invasion has prompted a warning that average October energy bills could skyrocket to nearly £3,000.

Meanwhile, oil prices rose to nearly $120 a barrel today and threatened to push gasoline prices higher, which are already at record highs. Later it relaxed.

Global commodity prices are on course for the biggest weekly rally in more than 50 years.

In addition to oil and gas, trading prices for wheat and metals have also skyrocketed.