Poland’s oil and gas group PGNiG received its first cargo of liquefied natural gas to be delivered to the LNG terminal in Klaipėda, Lithuania.
The LNG carrier Aristidis I brought a cargo of about 65,000 tonnes or 150,000 cubic metres of LNG to the Klaipėda terminal, which is equivalent to almost 90 million cubic metres (mcm) of natural gas after regasification. The gas came from a liquefaction plant in Freeport, in the US state of Texas. This delivery is a step towards further integration of gas markets in this part of Europe and strengthening their energy security.
“The first delivery of liquefied natural gas received by PGNiG at the regasification terminal in Klaipėda is an important milestone in the implementation of our strategy to build a strong position for the Group in the international LNG trading market,” commented Iwona Waksmundzka-Olejniczak, President of the PGNiG Management Board. “I believe that the cooperation between the PGNiG Group and Klaipėdos Nafta, the terminal operator, will not only further the two companies’ business goals but will be a strong impulse for further integration of the gas markets of Poland and the Baltic States, increasing the region’s energy security based on diversified gas fuel supplies. Strengthening of our presence in Lithuania is also part of our plans to build a multi-utility group with PKN ORLEN, which is dynamically developing its business in this region as well.”
The KN operated LNG terminal is one of the key elements of Lithuania’s energy infrastructure. Its launch in 2014 paved the way for the emergence of a natural gas market in Lithuania, diversification of gas supply sources, and improvement of energy security across the region.
“This week’s developments, including the launch of Polish-Lithuanian gas pipeline interconnector GIPL on 1 May and the arrival of the first large PGNiG cargo to Klaipėda LNG terminal on Friday, are significant milestones in the history of Lithuanian and Polish energy independence and security of gas supply,” added Darius Šilenskis, CEO of KN. “At the same time, it also marks a new stage in the energy integration of the Baltic Sea region countries with the rest of Europe and more opportunities to diversify and secure natural gas supply, especially in the context of current difficult geopolitical conditions. I’m glad that cooperation with PGNiG, which started more than two years ago, today is expanding significantly by creating additional opportunities for both counterparts.”
LNG brought for PGNiG by the LNG carrier Aristidis I will be reloaded into the tanks of the floating storage and regasification unit ‘Independence’ at the LNG terminal in Klaipėda, and then regasified and transferred to the transmission system. This is particularly important in view of the steps being taken by countries in the region to become independent of Russian gas supplies, as well as Gazprom’s discontinuation of gas deliveries to Poland.
Gas from the first cargo received by the PGNiG Group in Klaipėda will be supplied not only to the Polish market but also to the Baltic State. Elenger, one of the major energy companies in the Finnish-Baltic region, has bought part of the LNG delivery for their customers.
“Cooperation helps to overcome difficult and revolutionary times on the European energy market,” said Margus Kaasik, the head of Elenger group. “Being one of the fastest-growing energy companies in the Baltic Sea region and an experienced LNG competence and infrastructure developer, Elenger is very happy to have found a strong partner in PGNiG, with whom we can deliver and transfer LNG to the region in order to improve gas supply security.”
