Imports of Lithuanian gas soar as Estonia reduces reliance on Gazprom

  • 2015-05-15
  • from wire reports and TBT staff, TALLINN

In April, imports of natural gas to Estonia reached 41 million cubic metres, of which 27% was imported from Lithuania, Estonia's main grid company Elering announced. This represents a sharp rise: In March, just 18% of all gas was imported from Lithuania.

Estonia began importing gas from Lithuania in December of last year, in a bid to reduce its dependence on the Russian energy company Gazprom.

The total amount of natural gas imported to Estonia has fallen by 2% year-on-year .

Baltic Energy Partners, Eesti Energia, Reola Gaas and Litgas imported in April over 11 million cubic metres of gas from Lithuania. In March this year, these companies imported 10.6 million cubic metres.

The remaining 30 million cubic metres (or 73% of the total) was imported by Eesti Gaas, Elering announced.

In addition  83.6 million cubic meters of gas passed through the Estonian gas grid between Latvia and Russia -  5% more than at the same time last year.

The price of gas delivered to Estonia, based on the Eesti Gaas price formula, was according to Elering's estimate of 26.5 euros per megawatt-hour on average.