On December 7, work on improving Lithuanian-Latvian gas interconnection was completed in Lithuania’s Pasvalys district, as confirmed by Lithuanian gas system operator Amber Grid.
Amber Grid noted the project was completed ahead of schedule, and now it was possible to transport 90 GWh of gas using the pipeline, which was 30% more than was possible until now.
The prospect of increased flow of gas to Latvia has already caught the attention of market players. Additionally, the gas flow between Latvia and Lithuania is already used almost to the full capacity, as reported by Lithuanian company.
Amber Grid director general Nemums Biknus said at the festive ceremony this project would not only promote energy security for Lithuania and Latvia but the entire region as well, as it is now possible to transport even more gas to Incukalns underground gas storage facility.
Biknus clarified that now the interconnection capacity met one day’s of consumption in Lithuania during cold winter.
He invited European gas traders to be more active in the Baltic region and use gas storage, transportation and trade opportunities.
Conexus board chairman Uldis Bariss mentioned during the ceremony in Lithuania that now it is possible to transport liquefied natural gas from Klaipeda’s LNG terminal to the terminal in Incukalns more quickly. Biknus added that the additional capacity allows for storing more gas at Incukalns.
The project in Lithuania was implemented by MT Group and Alvora.
By implementing a joint capacity increase for Latvian-Lithuanian interconnection, natural gas distribution and storage system operators Conexus Baltic Grid (Conexus) and Amber Gid were able to expand Kemeni gas measuring station in Pasvalys district and increase its capacity. Panevezys gas compressor station’s pipelines were reconstructed as well. This allows transporting more gas from Klaipeda to Latvia.
Other ELLI project tasks will be completed next year. One work in Latvia is completed, the capacity of the gas interconnection between Latvia and Lithuania will be nearly doubled.
Latvia’s and Lithuania’s joint investments in this project reach EUR 10.2 million. EUR 4.7 million is provided by Lithuania and EUR 2.1 million is provided by the European Union. (BNN/Business World Magazine)
