EU ends coal imports from Russia

The sanctions package adopted by EU countries in April, which includes banning coal imports from Russia, came into effect with the end of the transition period.

The purchase, importation or transfer to the EU of coal and other solid fossil fuels of 8 billion euros a year originating in or exported from Russia was prohibited.

The first of the EU's energy sanctions against Russia was the coal purchase ban. The ban on oil imports from Russia is expected to come into effect in December.

Russia was the country that supplied the most coal to EU countries. Russia was making about 25 percent of its coal exports to Europe.

EU countries, on the other hand, supplied 45 percent of total coal imports and 70 percent of thermal coal used in electricity generation from Russia.

According to data from the Russian Ministry of Energy, Russia sold 48.7 million tons of coal to the EU in 2021.