U.S.-EU Energy Council discusses energy security, LNG

The United States-European Union Energy Council met on Wednesday in Washington discussing energy security in Europe and the United States. 

Among topics discussed by delegations was third-party access to gas transmission and storage facilities, access to LNG, as well as energy efficiency measures, that will be critical to meeting the EU’s energy security objectives.

The meeting was chaired by the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz, EU High Representative/Vice President Federica Mogherini, European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic and European Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete.

The delegations noted that the development and use of interconnections (including bi-directional), regasification and storage infrastructure is essential for European energy security.

The Council reiterated its strong support for the opening of the Southern Gas Corridor, including the construction of the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and underscored the importance of the Greece-Bulgaria Interconnector and the construction of liquefied natural gas terminals, in Croatia (with evacuation pipelines), as well as in Greece if there is market demand.

In addition, the council believes the improvement of the infrastructure would be critical for bringing alternative gas supplies into the Southeast and Central European region.

The commencement of LNG export from the United States has been regarded as an “important milestone” for the global energy market, and the United States has already approved LNG volumes for export to non-free trade agreement countries.

Deliveries from the United States to Europe have already started with first cargo unloaded in Portugal in April.

Lithuania, which was long considered the first destination of the LNG exported from Cheniere Energy’s Sabine Pass facility, could soon start receiving cargoes from the United States under a master trade agreement signed between Cheniere and Litgas, part of the Lithuanian state-controlled Lietuvos Energija energy company group.

LNG World News Staff