Lithuania’s LNG terminal can provide the country with alternatives for Russian gas supply, but its dependence on electricity imports from Russia is “a major problem”, says Lithuanian EU Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius.
The country should speed up its plans to disconnect from the Russia-dominated network and synchronize its grid with those of Western Europe, he said after the European Commission proposed measures expected to reduce the EU’s dependency on Russian gas by two-thirds until the end of the year.
According to the commissioner, the objective set out by the Commission would be achieved by purchasing gas from alternative markets as well as by speeding up, as much as possible, the transition from fossil fuels to alternative sources of energy.
“First of all, Russian gas should be eliminated from the European Union’s market as soon as possible, that’s for sure. However, this must be done while ensuring the stability of the energy system and adequate prices for consumers and while simultaneously implementing the climate change objectives,” Sinkevicius said.
He singled out infrastructure and, specifically, capacities to receive LNG cargoes as the weakest element in the transition to alternative sources of gas imports.
According to Sinkevicius, the sources of gas imports that were considered included the United States or Qatar, which could send LNG cargoes, as well as Azerbaijan, Algeria and Norway, which could supply gas to Europe by pipelines. However, the EU could only get half of the gas volume it needs from these sources.
“Dependence on Russia exceeds 155 billion cubic meters. When it comes to the alternative from the United States and Qatar, the volume of liquefied natural gas we could get from there is approximately 50 billion cubic meters, plus extra 10 billion from Azerbaijan, Algeria, Norway and perhaps additional 10 billion cubic meters from those countries after adopting various decisions,” he said.
The Commission’s proposal also called for 90% of gas storage capacity in the EU to be filled by October 1, the commissioner said.
“The Commission is ready to help member states fill their gas storage facilities, for instance, through joint procurements, collection of orders, coordination of supply,” Sinkevicius added.
The European Commission on March 8 set out the objective to reduce the Union’s dependence on gas imports from Russia by two-thirds until the end of this year and to make the EU fully independent from Russian gas, oil and coal until 2030. (LRT/Business World Magazine)