Lithuania becomes 1st EU country to stop Russian gas imports

Vilnius, April 4 - Neftegaz.RU. Lithuania is the 1^st EU country to have completely stopped importing Russian gas, the energy ministry announced on April 2, Euractiv has reported.
The move to become fully independent from Russian gas was made in response to Russia’s energy blackmailing Europe and the military conflict in Ukraine.

Lithuania’s Energy Minister Dainius Kreivys said:

• We are the 1^st EU country among Gazprom’s supply countries to gain independence from Russian gas supplies and this is the result of a multi-year coherent energy policy and timely infrastructure decisions

This is confirmed by the data of the Lithuanian gas transmission system operator Amber Grid, which showed that on 2 April the import of Russian gas for Lithuania’s needs through the Lithuanian-Belarusian interconnection was equal to 0 MWh.

The alternative to Russian gas is importing gas from multiple countries through Klaipėda’s LNG terminal, symbolically called «Independence».
The terminal was established a decade ago.

President Gitanas Nausėda tweeted:

• Years ago my country made decisions that today allow us with no pain to break energy ties with the aggressor
• If we can do it, the rest of Europe can do it too!

LNG terminal operator Klaipedos Nafta indicates that 3 large LNG cargoes will reach the terminal each month, which is planned to be enough for all customers.
Additional gas can also be delivered to Lithuania via the gas link with Latvia and from 1 May – through the gas link with Poland.

Defence Minister Arvydas Anušauskas tweeted:

• In 2015, Lithuania received 100% of its natural gas from Russia
• In 2020 more than 60% was still received from Russian energy producers

The 2 other Baltic states, Latvia and Estonia, also have suspended all purchases of Russian gas, government officials said.