In its efforts to further reduce its reliance on Russian energy products, the EU has continued to increase its imports of liquified natural gas (LNG). However amid all its efforts, the share of Russian gas exports to the bloc in May still exceeded the volume of gas supplies from the UK, according to new data from Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE) on Friday.

This year, the share of gas deliveries from the East, including Russia, fell to 7.2%. While that is less than the volume supplied by Northern Africa (9.8%), it was still more than the volumes supplied from the UK, (6.9%), according to GIE data.

Data also showed that while pumping decreased in May by 31% compared to the same period one year prior, hitting the lowest volume of gas loading over recent years, EU gas stockpiles are still currently 68.87% full.

Meanwhile, Europe’s gas transmission system saw inflows of LNG in May hit a record of 12 billion cubic meters, according to the GIE.

LNG became the main source of gas energy for the EU in 2023, making up 35% of total imports to the bloc, according to data from the European Network of Gas Transportation System Operators (ENTSOG). North Sea region gas supplies, primarily form Norway, made up 26% of imports since the start of the year, with 12% drawn from storage facilities underground.

Russian energy major Gazprom delivers 40.6 million cubic meters of gas per day to Western and Central Europe, via the Sudzha gas pumping station, which pumps it through Ukrainian territory, according to company statistics.

Russian Energy Minister Nikolay Shulginov had noted in early May, that despite the myriad of sanctions imposed on the Russian Republic by the Western powers which were designed to impact its energy industry, Western nations have continued to purchase Russian energy. He noted they have just switched to “work-arounds” which allowed them to bypass their own sanctions.