Lithuania needs to make use of US, EU energy

VILNIUS – Lithuania could make us of the renascent EU-US energy cooperation, Lithuanian Energy Minister Zygimantas Vaiciunas says.

He sent the message during his visit to Washington earlier this week that Lithuania is ready to be the United States' partner in exporting LNG to Europe.

"We could say a renaissance of energy ties between the United States and European Union is going on right now, first of all, in relation to the LNG exports to Europe. We have our LNG terminal, therefore, we want to become an active participant of this renaissance. It would be unreasonable not to make use of these arising opportunities," Vaiciunas told BNS Lithuania by phone from Frankfurt.

"We are not talking about specific contracts yet but my message was, first of all, about Lithuania as a trustworthy partner for the United States' LNG exports," he said.

The United States now exports 30 billion cubic meters of LNG worldwide, Vaiciunas noted, and the volume is set to increase threefold over the next 18-20 months, and we could speak about hundreds of billions of cubic meters in the future.

"All in all, we are speaking about the United States LNG exports potential of around 400 billion cubic meters. This is good news for the whole world, as well as Europe and Lithuania," the Lithuanian energy minister said.

Vaiciunas, among other things, introduced American politicians and businessman to Lithuania's plans on long-term ownership and use of the Klaipeda-based FSRU Independence.