Katerina Swanson
The UK has been reducing its imports of fossil fuels from Russia since the country's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In 2021, the UK imported £5.2 billion of fuel from Russia, accounting for 9.7% of all fuel imported. This included £3 billion of refined oil, which made Russia the UK's largest supplier of this fuel type, and £1 billion of crude oil. In 2021, only 4% of the UK's gas supply came from Russia, compared to over 39% of all extra-EU gas imports. The UK has since committed to ending imports of Russian oil and coal by the end of 2022 and banning Russian gas imports from 2023. As a result, the UK imported no coal, oil, or gas from Russia in January 2023, marking a full year without Russian gas imports by March 2023.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total UK fossil fuel imports from Russia in 2021 | £5.2 billion |
| Percentage of total UK fuel imports from Russia in 2021 | 9.7% |
| UK's biggest import from Russia in 2021 | Refined oil (£3 billion) |
| Percentage of UK refined oil imports from Russia in 2021 | 24.1% |
| UK's second-biggest import from Russia in 2021 | Crude oil (£1 billion) |
| Percentage of UK crude oil imports from Russia in 2021 | 5.9% |
| UK gas imports from Russia in 2021 | 4% |
| UK gas imports from Russia in 2022 | 0% |
| UK coal imports from Russia in 2022 | 0% |
| UK oil imports from Russia in 2022 | £2 million in August |
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What You'll Learn
The UK banned Russian gas imports in 2023
The UK banned imports of Russian gas from the start of 2023. In 2021, imports of gas, oil, and coal from Russia to the UK were worth a combined £4.5 billion. This fell to £2.2 billion in 2022 and £1.3 billion in the year to January 2023.
The UK government committed to ending imports of oil and coal from Russia by the end of 2022 and ending imports of gas from Russia as soon as possible thereafter. In January 2023, the UK imported no coal, oil, or gas from Russia, and in May 2023, it was reported that the UK had not imported any Russian gas in the 12 months to the end of March 2023.
The UK has looked to other countries to meet its gas demands, including the US, with which the UK government reached a deal to export up to 353 Bcf of gas to the UK for 2023. The UK has also increased its generation of energy from renewable sources, with renewables generating a record 46.2% of UK electricity from major power producers in the three months to May 2023.
The UK's ban on Russian gas imports is part of its response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and an attempt to reduce Europe's dependence on Russian energy. The UK has also committed to fast-forwarding the clean energy transition and improving energy efficiency.
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In 2021, 4% of UK gas was from Russia
In 2021, 4% of the UK's gas was imported from Russia. This is a relatively small amount compared to other European countries, many of which rely heavily on Russian gas. For example, in 2021, Russia supplied 39% of the EU's gas imports. The UK's gas imports come from a diverse range of sources, including pipelines from the UK and Norway Continental Shelf, interconnectors with the continent, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals.
The UK has taken steps to reduce its reliance on Russian energy following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In 2022, the UK government introduced a ban on imports of Russian coal and oil, and in 2023, a ban on Russian gas imports came into effect. As a result, the UK imported no coal, oil, or gas from Russia in January 2023, the first time this had happened since 2000.
Despite the small percentage of gas imports from Russia, the UK's overall fuel imports from Russia were significant. In 2021, the UK imported £5.2 billion of fuel from Russia, which accounted for 9.7% of all fuel imported. The main imported fuel type was refined oil (£3.0 billion), which is used as petrol or diesel for road vehicles or lubricating oil. Russia was the UK's largest supplier of refined oil in 2021, accounting for 24.1% of all imports. The UK also imported £1.0 billion of crude oil from Russia in 2021, or 5.9% of all crude oil imports.
The UK's exposure to volatile global gas prices underscores the importance of diversifying energy sources and reducing reliance on expensive fossil fuels. The UK has invested £90 billion in renewable energy since 2012 and has one of the most reliable and diverse energy systems in the world. The UK's plan to generate more cheap, clean, renewable energy and nuclear power will help reduce its vulnerability to global gas price fluctuations.
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The UK is a significant oil producer
The UK is a significant producer of both crude oil and petroleum products. In 2024, the UK was the 29th largest producer of oil and gas globally, responsible for 0.7% of the world's production of both oil and natural gas. The UK's oil and gas industry produced 1.42 million barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) per day in 2014, of which 59% was oil/liquids. In 2013, the UK consumed 1.508 million barrels per day of oil and 2.735 trillion cubic feet of gas, making it a net importer of hydrocarbons.
The UK's oil reserves are significantly above the 90 days of supply required by the International Energy Agency (IEA). In 2020, UK oil and gas production could meet 40% of the nation's demand. Oil and gas account for more than three-quarters of the UK's total primary energy needs. Oil provides 97% of the fuel for transport, while gas is a key fuel for heating and electricity generation.
The UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) is the UK's single largest source of gas, and it also produces a significant amount of oil. In 2016, the UKCS sector produced 62,906,000 cubic meters of oil and gas, meeting over half of the UK's oil and gas needs. Since production peaked in 1999, up to 3.18 billion cubic meters of oil and gas may still be recoverable from the UK's offshore fields. As of 2022, combined oil and gas production volumes in the UK were 1.3 million BOE/day, of which 60% was oil and 40% was natural gas.
The UK has 15,729 kilometres of pipelines connecting 113 oil installations and 189 gas installations as of 2012. The principal onshore oil field is Wytch Farm in Dorset, with a few other oil wells scattered across England. There is significant shale potential in the Weald and in the Bowland Shale under Lancashire and Yorkshire, but only a few wells have been drilled so far.
The UK government has committed to ending imports of Russian oil and coal by the end of 2022 and phasing out gas imports as soon as possible. In January 2023, the UK imported no coal, oil, or gas from Russia for the first time since 2000.
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Russian oil imports fell after the Ukraine invasion
The UK's imports of fossil fuels from Russia fell after the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In 2021, imports of gas, oil and coal from Russia to the UK were worth a combined £4.5 billion. This fell to £2.2 billion in 2022 and £1.3 billion in the year to January 2023. In January 2023, the UK imported no coal, oil or gas from Russia.
In 2021, imports from Russia made up 4% of gas used in the UK, 9% of oil and 27% of coal. While the UK relies on Russian energy to a lesser extent than many other European countries, it is still exposed to disruption in the energy markets due to the invasion of Ukraine.
The UK government announced in March 2022 that it would phase out imports of Russian oil and has been reducing the amount it imports. In August 2022, the UK imported £2 million of oil from Russia but no gas or coal, making it the sixth month in a row without Russian gas imports.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has altered the global oil trade. EU leaders agreed to ban most Russian crude imports, but even before the official action, imports to Northwest Europe were down. More Russian oil is now heading to nations including India and China.
Russian fossil fuel revenues in the second quarter of 2025 dropped by 18% year-on-year, the lowest in a quarter since the invasion of Ukraine.
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The UK gets gas from Qatar and the US
The UK has been reducing its imports of fossil fuels from Russia since the country invaded Ukraine in 2022. In 2021, imports of gas, oil, and coal from Russia to the UK were worth a combined £4.5 billion, but this fell to £1.3 billion in the year to January 2023. In 2021, only 4% of the UK's gas came from Russia, and the UK imported no gas from Russia in August 2022, making it the sixth month in a row without Russian gas imports.
The UK has looked elsewhere for its gas imports, including to Qatar and the United States. In 2021, Qatar supplied 39% of all liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the UK, making it the biggest supplier of LNG to the country that year. The United States supplied a further 93,000 metric tonnes of LNG to the UK in 2021. The proportion of gas imports sourced from the US jumped from 7.5% to 22.4% in 2022, and rose again to 26% in 2023. LNG imports from the US were crucial in eliminating the UK's need for Russian gas and lessening its reliance on potentially unstable nations.
The UK also imports LNG from Belgium, Denmark, France, Nigeria, and Peru, as well as Norway, the Netherlands, and Egypt, which have supplied the UK with gas since 2006. The UK's single largest source of gas is from the UK Continental Shelf, and the vast majority of imports come from reliable suppliers such as Norway.
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Frequently asked questions
In 2021, the UK imported £5.2 billion of fuel from Russia, which was 9.7% of all fuel imported into the UK.
In 2021, only 4% of the UK's gas came from Russia. There are no direct pipelines between the two countries.
Yes, the UK has committed to ending imports of oil and coal from Russia by the end of 2022 and gas from Russia as soon as possible thereafter. The UK imported no fuel from Russia in January 2023.
