Liquefied natural gas in the world and Lithuanian perspective

The Lithuanian energy sector is very dependent on Russia: the power system of the Baltic States works in parallel with the Russian North-western power system and currently has no possibility to work separately; oil for the refinery is mainly imported through Russian oil pipelines; nuclear fuel is imported from Russia only; Lithuania has a single natural gas supplier which is Gazprom. Supply of natural gas can be limited or stopped at all in the case of some technical or political troubles. These circumstances make Lithuania very vulnerable from the energy security point of view. A liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal can be an alternative possibility for Lithuanian gas consumers – industry, electricity and heat producers. Is such LNG import terminal affordable for the Lithuanian energy sector? The article presents a description of the LNG industry boom in the world fuel market in the past decade. Scenarios of the possibility to construct an LNG terminal on the Lithuanian coast is analyzed. A preliminary price calculation of natural gas imported through an LNG terminal is presented.