Lithuania could begin importing U.S. gas as early as 2016

Lithuania's Energy Minister, Rokas Masiulis, believes Lithuania could begin importing gas from the United States as soon as 2016.

While the decision will depend on pricing and conditions, Masiulis told LRT Television that "some gas may come to our liquefied natural gas terminal [in Klaipeda] as early as next year.

According to the minister, Lithuania is seeking to negotiate a lower price for US gas than it currently pays for gas supplies.

"The price of gas in Lithuania is now among the lowest in Europe only because we have the LNG terminal,” he said.

“When we negotiate on the supply of liquefied gas from the US, then we certainly want a price that would be even better.”

Discussions are currently underway in several US Senate committees on the lifting of a ban on oil exports.