Lithuania is the first EU country to have completely stopped importing Russian gas, the Energy Ministry has announced.
The move to become fully independent from Russian gas was made in response to Russia’s energy blackmailing Europe and the war in Ukraine.
“We are the first EU country among Gazprom’s supply countries to gain independence from Russian gas supplies, and this is the result of a multi-year coherent energy policy and timely infrastructure decisions,” said Lithuania’s Energy Minister Dainius Kreivys.
This is confirmed by the data of the Lithuanian gas transmission system operator Amber Grid, which showed that on April 2 the import of Russian gas for Lithuania’s needs through the Lithuanian-Belarusian interconnection was equal to 0 MWh.
The alternative to Russian gas is importing gas from multiple countries through Klaipeda’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, symbolically called “Independence”.
The terminal was established a decade ago.
“Years ago my country made decisions that today allow us with no pain to break energy ties with the aggressor. If we can do it, the rest of Europe can do it too,” President Gitanas Nauseda tweeted.
LNG terminal operator Klaipedos Nafta indicates that three large LNG cargoes will reach the terminal each month, which is planned to be enough for all customers.
Additional gas can also be delivered to Lithuania via the gas link with Latvia and from May 1 – through the gas link with Poland.
“In 2015, Lithuania received 100% of its natural gas from Russia. In 2020, more than 60% was still received from Russian energy producers,” tweeted Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas.
Latvia and Estonia have also announced the same decision. (LRT/Business World Magazine)