The European Union’s (EU) plans to significantly increase LNG import capacity continues to draw mixed opinions and raise concerns over whether the expansion would conflict with decarbonization targets and aspirations to dramatically boost renewable energy supplies this decade.

To bring in enough LNG to gain independence from Russian natural gas, the EU aims to increase the number of LNG import facilities to 35 from 27. That would boost import capacity by another 227 billion cubic meters (Bcm) annually from 178 Bcm.

While opponents say additional EU import capacity won’t be needed in the long-term and would compromise the bloc’s climate goals.supporters see expansion plans as the only alternative to Russian gas imports. In the meantime, proponents claim climate transition...