Economics Ministry drafts bill on Skulte LNG terminal' status as facility of national interest

RIGA - The Economics Ministry has drafted a bill to give the status of national interest to a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal Latvia is planning to building in Skulte, the ministry said. 

According to the Economics Ministry, since putting Skulte LNG Terminal into operation quickly is essential to ensure gas supply to Latvia, a special regulation is needed to assert the state's interest in the LNG terminal's development and to simplify the bureaucratic procedures for the project's assessment and implementation. 

The objective of the bill is to strengthen the resilience of Latvia's energy supply routes and ensure a successful  construction of Skulte LNG Terminal.

The new legislation will give Skulte LNG Terminal, its pipeline connection with the gas transmission system and related structures the status of a facility of national interest to prevent administrative obstacles and uncertainties that could hamper the project's implementation.

The bill also stipulates that Skulte LNG Terminal and related structures have to be completed by September 15. 

As reported, Skulte LNG Terminal was registered in 2016, and has a share capital of 42,000. According to information on the company's website, Skulte LNG Terminal belongs to Arnfinn Unum and Peteris Ragauss. In May 2022, Latvian fuel retailer Virsi-A announced an acquisition of a 20 percent in Skulte LNG Terminal.