UPDATE: FSRU Independence arrives at Klaipeda, commissioning cargo expected soon

Höegh LNG’s 170,000 cbm FSRU “Independence” has arrived today, October 27, at the Klaipeda port in Lithuania.

The second of the four FSRUs that Höegh LNG has ordered from Hyundai Heavy Industries will serve as Lithuania’s first import terminal under a long term charter to Klaipedos Nafta.

Until now, Lithuania has been completely dependent on gas imports from Russian gas giant Gazprom.

Lithuania’s President Dalia Grybauskaitė today attended the welcoming ceremony for the FSRU in the Port of Klaipėda.

“In the twenty-fifth year of its re-independence, Lithuania again stands proud of its strong spirit, courage and political will. The liquefied natural gas terminal is an important strategic project and a great victory of our state. It is not only energy independence, but also political freedom. From now on, nobody will dictate us the price for gas or buy our political will,” she said.

According to Grybauskaitė, the Klaipėda LNG terminal will play a very special role – it will be a security guarantee for the whole region. If necessary, it will be able to cover 90 percent of the three Baltic States’ gas supply needs.

Grybauskaitė also said that this LNG terminal represents an opportunity for shale gas imports from the U.S. which has several LNG export developments in the pipeline.

The FSRU is expected to receive the commissioning cargo on Tuesday onboard the 160,000 cbm Golar Seal.

The tanker departed from Statoil’s Hammerfest LNG terminal in Norway on October 18, according to shipping data. It is currently anchored off the coast of Klaipeda, the data shows.