A new member has joined the liquefied natural gas (LNG) cluster – the Emerson (USA) company became the first international partner of the cluster, Klaipedos Nafta says in a press release.
By attracting the international partner, Klaipedos Nafta AB aims to develop cluster competencies and promote the emergence of the small-scale LNG terminals’ management systems modeling competencies, which would significantly increase the competitiveness of the cluster in the fields of LNG distribution services and development of technologies.
Emerson, a US company, is one of the leading suppliers of automation and control systems in the world. It employs more than 111,000 people, and has an annual turnover of up to 22 billion euros, and could thus contribute to LNG infrastructure development, as the company is considering various options to invest in new technological solutions.
One of the specific possible ways of cooperation is the emergence of a small-scale LNG terminals management simulator in Klaipeda, which would allow university students to gain practical skills in the field of LNG.
“The involvement of Emerson in the LNG cluster will significantly enhance the organization’s technological potential, as one of the most significant factors of the LNG technological systems are automation solutions, which ensure efficient and safe LNG facility management. The LNG cluster is already cooperating with Emerson in the creation of a system that will allow using LNG cold energy. The emergence of the small-scale LNG terminals management simulator could contribute to the LNG cluster’s objective to create an LNG technological center in Klaipeda that would become a tool to strengthen Lithuania’s position in becoming an LNG distribution and technological development center in the Baltic Sea region”, Mantas Bartuska, CEO of Klaipedos Nafta AB and Chair of the LNG Cluster Board, said.
“This October will mark a year since the launch of the initial meetings concerning LNG cluster development. It took less than a year to obtain visible results: a new study program – LNG terminals engineering – was launched on September 1, in Klaipeda University, and the LNG cluster has been established and is actively operating. Moreover, the LNG cluster has been joined by an international engineering solutions developer – the Emerson Company. It is evident that this professional interaction between science and business could turn into a success story in economics, scientific achievements and new technologies and, most importantly, a story that recognizes Lithuanian innovation. The activities of the LNG cluster must continue to strive for cooperation based on innovation and the creation of opportunities for investment in Lithuania”, Rokas Masiulis, the Minister of Energy, stressed. (Portnews/Business World Magazine)