Vilnius, October 31 - Neftegaz.RU. The European Commission has approved under EU State aid rules the compensation granted by Lithuania to LITGAS for supplying a mandatory quantity of LNG to the LNG terminal in Klaipėda.
In November 2013, the Commission approved under EU State aid rules an aid scheme to support the construction and operation of a LNG terminal at the Klaipėda seaportin Lithuania The LNG terminal has, since its construction, played a vital role in the diversification of gas supplies and security of supply in Lithuania.
In 2018, the country notified the Commission of certain changes to the aid scheme approved in 2013, namely:
a) Public service obligation of LITGAS. To ensure security of supply, the LNG terminal must be kept operational, which requires continuous deliveries of LNG and its constant regasification.
b) Removal of purchasing obligation. As part of the support scheme approved by the Commission in 2013, when the LNG terminal started its operations, Lithuania introduced a purchase obligation whereby heat and electricity generators were obliged by law to purchase a certain quantity of gas from LITGAS.
The Commission has approved both the scheme currently in force for the period from 2016 until the end of the year 2018 and the modified scheme for the period from 2019 until the end of 2024.
In August 2018, Lithuania received through the Klaipeda seaport its 1st LNG shipment from the US, in line with the joint statement by President Juncker and President Trump to strengthen EU-US strategic cooperation with respect to energy.
