By Liz Hampton

(Reuters) – At least 12 U.S. shale-gas executives met Wednesday with European energy officials in order to expand U.S. fuel supplies for Europe, amid a race to replace Russian imports.

According to executives, the group met with representatives from foreign affairs, economic and trade ministers in Houston. They discussed ways they could reduce imports of Russian oil and coal, as well as liquefied products, following Ukraine’s invasion. Two-thirds of the European Union’s dependence on Russian natural gas will be reduced this year.

According to Fred Hutchison (chief executive of the trade group LNG Allies), delegations from Latvia and Estonia visited the Golden Pass LNG export facility in Sabine Pass. Later, they met in Houston with representatives from the UK and other countries.

He said that top executives of Chesapeake Energy, Coterra Energy and EOG Resources (NYSE) participated in group discussions. The U.S. executive team is scheduled to meet with Latvian and Estonian commercial representatives.

The situation is extremely precarious in Europe. Hutchison said that Russia gas dependence is so widespread in Europe, many of them are ready to give it up completely.

It takes many years to build new LNG capacity. There will be limited supplies available in the mid-decade. He said that while the capacity issues in 2022 will be great, there are also tremendous opportunities within the next few years.

At a hearing held earlier today by Congress, the need to build new LNG plants were highlighted. Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE:) Chief Executive Scott Sheffield. He asked Congress to approve the construction of U.S.-made plants.

Sheffield stated that “we need to build LNG plants in the northeast”.