Operator of oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals AB Klaipėdos Nafta (KN) as part of a Lithuanian energy delegation visited Fluxys’ Zeebrugge LNG terminal and its small-scale LNG facilities in Belgium. Both companies agreed in a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate closely in the development of small-scale LNG projects and infrastructure in Europe.
RasGas’ Milaha Qatar unloading at the second jetty of the Zeebrugge LNG terminal. The second jetty has been designed for receiving the smallest LNG carriers with a capacity from 2000 m3 of LNG up to large LNG vessels with a capacity of 217 000 m3 of LNG. - Image courtesy of Fluxys Belgium/David Samin
The procedure of signing the MoU was attended by Žygimantas Vaičiūnas, the Minister of Energy of Lithuania, Gediminas Varvuolis, the Lithuanian Ambassador in Belgium, and Bart Tommelein, Deputy Prime Minister of the Flemish Government and Minister of Budget, Finance and Energy. Members of the Lithuanian delegation were informed about the opportunities of Zeebrugge LNG terminal operated by Fluxys and visited facilities of the terminal ‘s infrastructure including the recently commissioned second jetty that has been specifically designed for receiving also small LNG carriers with capacities from 2,000 m3 of LNG.
"The memorandum will enable the companies to be more pro-active both in the Baltic Sea Region and beyond. Klaipėda will become an active LNG distribution centre in the LNG supply chain in the Nordic countries and Europe as a whole. It is symbolic that KN is signing the memorandum with one of the European Union ‘s largest and most dynamic LNG market participants at the time of implementation of the LNG distribution station project", said Lithuanian Minister of Energy Žygimantas Vaičiūnas.
"The LNG infrastructure established and developed by KN is a driver of an LNG logistic chain in the Baltic Sea Region, and optimal utilisation of the infrastructure facilities is very important. We will seek to achieve this jointly with one of Europe ‘s largest market players, therefore, the memorandum of understanding is a highly significant document that enables both parties to comprehensively develop the LNG infrastructure and its utilisation in European or Nordic markets ", said Mindaugas Jusius, CEO of KN.
According to Mindaugas Jusius, Belgium is very advanced in the field of LNG and the Zeebrugge LNG terminal has developed into a first-mover LNG distribution hub. Belgium ‘s experience is very valuable for the implementation of a small-scale terminal in Klaipėda as an efficient LNG hub performing regional functions, as a number of key elements – the port LNG infrastructure, the mainland LNG infrastructure and the market have to be linked together into a cohesive system. It is expected that the MoU will provide an impetus for mutual collaboration.
Source: KN