Lithuania attracts no bids to replace LNG import terminal

KN Energies AB

18/08/2021 11:28

VILNIUS, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Lithuania has received no bids
to potentially replace its floating liquefied natural gas (LNG)
import terminal, operator Klaipedos Nafta  KNF1L.VL  said on
Wednesday.
    The Baltic state leases a floating storage and
regasification vessel (FSRU) dubbed Independence from Norway's
Hoegh LNG  HOLHF.PK  and has an option to buy it when the lease
expires in 2024.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL5N2OL3GA
    "Several potential suppliers told us they are not bidding as
the buyout terms for Independence are extremely good," a
Klaipedos Nafta spokeswoman told Reuters.
    State-controlled Klaipedos Nafta said in July it had decided
to seek alternative bids to make sure that it gets the best
terms, and has to make a final decision by the end of 2022.
    Lithuania has been importing LNG via the current terminal
since 2014, thereby ending Russia's Gazprom  GAZP.MM  pipeline
gas supply monopoly.
    The terminal is also used to import gas for its neighbouring
Baltic states and Finland, and a new gas link to neighbour
Poland is expected to be completed by end-2021.

 (Reporting by Andrius Sytas in Vilnius; editing by Jason Neely)
 ((Andrius.Sytas@thomsonreuters.com; +370 682 74006;))