Independence" had successfully moored to the LNG terminal jetty
294 m in length FSRU INDEPENDENCE has reached the jetty at around 10.30 a.m. The mooring process went smoothly by working all parties together: the vessel’s crew, which consisted of 25 people, professionals of SC KLAIPEDOS NAFTA Klaipeda State Sea Port Authority, and the security services. This is the first LNG ship in the history of the port of Klaipeda, therefore preparation for her greeting began nearly a year ago by training, practical exercises and internships.
The ceremony held this afternoon was attended by the highest-level diplomats, ambassadors, ministers, Lithuanian parliament (Seimas) members and other Lithuanian and foreign guest.
Especially for this occasion the film "Flame of Independence" was made which reveals the desire of Lithuania\'s independence from the BALTIC WAY (Baltijos kelias) to the energy independence. Three cannon rounds were fired for Lithuania, the Baltic Sea and Independence. Her Excellency the President of Lithuania, Prime Ministers of Lithuania and Latvia, Lithuanian Minister of Energy for this occasion paid tribute with their speeches.
“After Lithuania\'s 25 years of independence, we can again be proud of our determination, courage and political will. Lithuania first from the Baltic countries built a liquefied natural gas terminal. It will be the Baltic region\'s energy security, we can always come to the aid of our neighbors if needed. This terminal will be able to cover 90 percent of all three Baltic countries demand. And no one else will be able to dictate the price of gas, to purchase our political will or to bribe our politicians,"- said Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė during the ceremony.
At the ceremony Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius said: “The regional LNG terminal in Klaipeda opens up opportunities to Latvia and Estonia, all the Baltic States to use alternative sources of gas supply, to ensure competitive prices, their integration into the internal market of the European Union, and to strengthen our energy security. To add more, this object\'s influence in the negotiations on the reduction of gas prices is being felt by the users before the terminal started operating".
Lithuanian Minister of Energy Rokas Masiulis noted that the LNG terminal will also open new business opportunities: “At the moment it is one of the most modern ships of this type in the world, which will contribute not only to the security of gas supply, but also to a relatively new branch of business development in our region – the use of LNG in shipping, transport and other sectors”.
After “Independence” has been successfully moored, now LNG terminal is ready to accept the first cargo tomorrow for the terminal testing. The state nominated gas supply company LITGAS purchased LNG from Norwegian company Statoil, and the cargo will come by an LNG carrier. The quantity of cargo is about 100 thousand cubic meters of LNG. As it had been already announced, in February 2014 the Ministry of Energy had appointed LITGAS as the state nominated supplier, who will supply the minimum necessary amount of natural gas to the terminal (540 million cubic meters) from 2015. Such content is necessary to ensure the sustained activities of the LNG terminal.
About the LNG Terminal: this is the first LNG terminal in the Baltic countries, consisting of FSRU (170.000 cub. m), the jetty (450 m in length) and a pipeline (18 km). The LNG terminal is located in the Curonian Lagoon. It will become an alternative for gas supply as up to now Lithuania received 100 percent of gas via pipelines supplied from Russia. The gas will be supplied to the terminal by LNG carriers. Lithuanian LNG terminal project was implemented by SC KLAIPEDOS NAFTA.
The State owns 72,32% of KLAIPEDOS NAFTA.
Algirdas Kubaitis photo: LNG vessel\'s arrival moment.
Source www.sgd.lt
