Exactly one year ago, on 27th October 2014, Klaipeda port greeted “Independence” – a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), a part of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Klaipeda. Along with “Independence” in the Lithuanian gas market for the first time in history arrived safety and competition and a unique experience.
“Security of gas supply means that no one can no longer blackmail Lithuania threatening to stop the gas tap. Exactly a year ago, ending Gazprom's dominance in the Baltic States – “Independence” opened the way to world gas markets. We all know that the user is a winner from a competition. Lithuanian users recently paid for gas nearly the highest price in Europe. And last year gas price in Lithuania decreased the most from all the European countries. Plans to create a common Baltic gas market became a reality. “Independence” we can call the regional terminal, because it is able to meet most of the Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian gas demand ", – said the Lithuanian Minister of Energy Rokas Masiulis.
The Minister noted that the implementation of the European Union's energy supply security directives, LNG terminal in Klaipeda acts as a guarantor of security of supply in the Baltic region, and created a “ceiling” for gas prices in the entire region.
The General Manager of Klaipedos Nafta Mantas Bartuška acknowledged that the first year of LNG terminal operation has been a year of experimentation. It was necessary to properly and timely enter LNG terminal into service and to ensure its effective operation, also to be ready for any unexpected situation.
“The first year of LNG terminal operation in worldwide practice is the year when the market, customers, business partners and monitors observe the activity of the new terminal. Successfully started LNG terminal in Klaipeda indicates to the market that the terminal is operating safely and reliably, and is open to third party access. It is now one of the most modern vessels of this type in the world, which contributes not only to the security of gas supply, but also to the relatively new branch of business development in our region – the use of LNG shipping and transport and other sectors. We hope that the second year of operation of the terminal will attract more market participants who will use an alternative gas supply infrastructure in the region”, – said SC Klaipedos Nafta General Manager Mantas Bartuška.
As M.Bartuška noted, thanks to the smooth operation of the LNG terminal, Lithuania’s energy expertise and competence in the world begun to be noticed not only in words but also by the contracts and real action. SC Klaipedos Nafta has signed an agreement under which the Lithuanian company will implement the LNG terminal project in Colombia. This is the first agreement of its kind in the Lithuanian energy sector.
Klaipeda LNG terminal can meet 100 percent of Lithuania’s as well as 90 per cent of neighboring Latvia’s and Estonia’s natural gas demand.
Briefly about LNG terminal: This is the first LNG terminal in the Baltic countries, consisting of FSRU (170,000 thousand cubic meters), the jetty (450 m) and the gas pipeline (18 km). The terminal, located in the southern part of Klaipeda port, Lithuania became an alternative to gas imports coming from Russia. The terminal is supplied by gas carrier vessels. Until 2015-10-27 Klaipeda port was visited by 6 gas carriers.
The State owns 72,32 percent of Klaipedos Nafta shares.
