Campaigners Call for Transparency Amid UK Government Contracts with TotalEnergies
Seven Ukraine-based and pro-Ukrainian groups have issued a letter urging the UK government to disclose all contracts with TotalEnergies and to cease procurement from any suppliers maintaining ties to Russian energy. The letter criticizes UK procurement practices, highlighting that they undermine Western sanctions against Russia, reports 24brussels.
The letter asserts that TotalEnergies’ actions are emblematic of how certain companies exploit the situation to profit, consequently weakening the entire sanctions framework established by Western nations. It calls on Minister Thomas-Symonds, responsible for the Crown Commercial Service, to provide transparency regarding these contracts and to outline a strategy for transitioning government departments to cleaner energy sources.
A spokesperson for the government defended the practices, stating, “All government contracts are openly published online, and follow all U.K. sanctions and regulations. Like most U.K. suppliers, TotalEnergies purchases gas from the U.K. domestic open market, where the presence of Russian gas is extremely unlikely.”
Iryna Ptashnyk, a senior researcher at Razom We Stand and coordinator of the letter, emphasized the inappropriateness of British taxpayers’ money flowing to TotalEnergies. She described the situation as “indefensible” and called for the government to take immediate action to end these contracts.
In response, TotalEnergies clarified that its only supply of Russian gas to Europe is via long-term contracts from the Yamal liquefied natural gas complex in Siberia, which were established prior to Russia’s extensive invasion of Ukraine and cannot be terminated. The company also stated that gas supplied under its contracts with the UK government is acquired from the domestic market, ensuring a highly unlikely origin of Russian gas. According to the company, it complies with the UK’s ban and does not import Russian LNG directly.
