Eesti Energia to begin using Klaipeda LNG terminal from September

Estonian energy trader Eesti Energia has signed an agreement to start using services of the Klaipedos Nafta-operated Klaipeda LNG terminal in Lithuania.

Klaipedos Nafta said that the first cargo of Eesti Energia in the history of Klaipeda LNG terminal would arrive there at the end of September.

Arūnas Molis, head of Klaipeda LNG Service, said: “Gas was already imported to other Baltic countries through Klaipeda LNG terminal before, but it is important that during the period of low LNG prices several new terminal users found business opportunities and tried the terminal services.

“The growing number of Klaipeda LNG Terminal users demonstrates the confidence of business in the value chain created by our company, brings more competition and allows to supply gas at a more competitive price. The number of terminal users has doubled over the summer, and the capacity booked for autumn and winter gives us an optimistic view […].”

Eero Sirendi, head of energy trading at Eesti Energia, added: “Now we have taken a step forward in cooperation with Klaipeda LNG terminal, which enables us in a given market situation to purchase LNG at a competitive price, to regasify and bring it to our clients in the Baltics.”

The company added that Klaipeda LNG terminal reached its highest operative efficiency since the launch of its activities during the last months of the first half of 2019 and enabled the supply of gas to both customers in Lithuania and consumers in other Baltic States.

In the first half of the year, Klaipeda LNG terminal accepted 15 LNG carriers (five LNG carriers in the first six months of 2018), which brought 402 thousand tons of LNG – 102 thousand tons more than in the first six months of 2018.

The other three users of the terminal provided regasification services to UAB Lietuvos Energijos Tiekimas, AB Achema, and UAB Imlitex.