Lithuanian LNG Platform Launched

A liquefied natural gas (LNG) platform aimed at strengthening and developing the LNG market and relevant activities was set up in Lithuania on November 8.

The platform was developed by six partners, including AB Klaipėdos Nafta, UAB Ligas, AB Amber Grid, UAB Lietuvos Dujų Tiekimas, Klaipėda University, and the Lithuanian LNG cluster, in accordance with a letter of intent on cooperation signed with the national LNG platform of the Netherlands in late June 2016.

“During the three years of the operation of the Klaipėda LNG terminal, we have developed the LNG infrastructure and created a broad range of LNG activities,” Žygimantas Vaičiūnas, the Lithuanian Minister of Energy, commented.

“Today, by creating a platform which unites business and science we move ahead – we join forces to seek real possibilities to apply this type of fuel in practice… LNG is the fuel of the future, and its application in industry and logistics is gathering speed across the world, with Lithuania keeping pace with the European leaders of LNG use in these sectors,” Vaičiūnas stressed.

As explained, the partners of the platform are seeking to promote the use of LNG as a new, cleaner and quieter fuel in the transport, industrial and other sectors and create the common information and work platform of all potential participants of the LNG market.

“An integrated approach to LNG and the involvement of countries developing LNG economic-commercial activities, an education and science institution as well as an LNG cluster will contribute to the quality development a of legal and regulatory basis in Lithuania and neighbouring regions and promote the use of LNG, as one of the cleanest fossil fuels, in the transport and industry sectors. It is also important to fully use the capacities of the floating LNG storage and regasification unit Independence as the LNG distribution hub of the whole Baltic Sea region,” Mindaugas Jusius, CEO of Klaipėdos Nafta, said.

“The platform will serve as an instrument for the development of LNG sector, that will promote the use of LNG not only in the traditional fields but also in the new ones through the use of know-how, experience and modern smart technologies,” Saulius Bilys, CEO of Amber Grid, added.

“We actively joined the Baltic Sea small-scale LNG supply market this year. It is symbolic that already the fifth small-scale LNG cargo is being loaded in Klaipeda today,” Mantas Mikalajūnas, CEO of Lietuvos Dujų Tiekimas, noted.