Lithuanian LNG volumes rise

In November, a total of three large and four small LNG vessels arrived at the Port of Klaipėda-based Klaipėda LNG terminal, bringing 450,000 cubic meters of LNG. Most of the gas (92%) was delivered from a gas liquefaction plant in Norway. In total, about 2.7 TWh of gas was re-gasified in November, or 20% more than the entire need of Lithuania.

As of the beginning of 2019, the LNG terminal, which is managed by KN (JSC Klaipėdos nafta) and began operating in December 2014, has carried out as many as 57 LNG loading and reloading operations. The regasification rate for January-November 2019 is more than double the amount for January-November of 2018, with a total of 17.4 TWh of gas re-gasified by the end of November.

“The fifth operational year of Klaipėda LNG Terminal was a turning point for both consumers and the entire industry,” said Arūnas Molis, director of KN Klaipėda LNG.

High utilisation

Utilisation of Klaipėda LNG terminal is expected to remain extremely high during December and in the upcoming years. Two large and five small LNG vessels will arrive in December, which will bring about 328,000 cubic meters of LNG. The re-gasification rate will be about 2.2 TWh.

Over the gas year of 2020 (from October 2019 to October 2020), users of the terminal will have booked re-gasification capacity in a total of over 19 TWh. This compares favourably to a total of 14TWh of gas which was re-gasified during the 2019 gas year (October 2018 to October 2019).

“The increasing demand for natural gas in the world and in Europe opens up new opportunities for Klaipėda LNG terminal as well,” said Mr Molis.

At the end of November, KN entered into a strategic partnership with Polish oil and gas company PGNiG, which booked the capacity of the Klaipėda LNG Distribution Station for five years, This will help develop and expand LNG market in Baltic countries and in Poland.