Lithuanian government supports EU states energy systems' unification and Klaipeda LNG terminal's realization, whereas ban the nuclear energy power contraction in Visaginas' construction. Vilnius also opens to shale gas exploitation.
The political orientation changes, but Lithuania's energy policy remains the same. On Friday 12/14, new Lithuanian Energy Minister Verslo Zinios explained centre-left Lithuanian government's priorities in energy policy.
As Bloomberg reported, Minister Zinios underlined the importance to unify Lithuania and Poland's national energetic systems, in order to apply the EU Third Energy Package.
The EU law requires to unify all European Energy Community members states' energy systems, in order to create a EU common energy market, liberalize gas sector, and avoid energy majors' hegemony on Europe.
Ministry Zinios, following a Lithuanian PM Arvidas Butkevicius official statement, also confirmed the realization of a LNG terminal in Klaipeda, which is fundamental to import liquefied gas from Qatar, Norway and the USA.
The European Commission endorses LNG terminals' realization, as the one in Klaipeda, in order to decrease EU dependence on Russia's gas supplies - which cover the 40% of EU total energy need, and the 99% of the Lithuania's one.
A sign of discontinuity from previous centre-right government's energy policy the new centre-left government - which is composed by the Social Democratic Party and the Labour Party, and is supported by the conservative party Order and Justice and the far conservative wing Polish Voters'Union in Lithuania - demonstrated in what concerns nuclear energy.
Minister Zinios told that the government will resign from the construction of an atomic power station in Visaginas, after a popular referendum, which has been hold together with last October Parliamentary Elections, rejected the project.
In the new energy strategy, Lithuanian government also included shale gas exploitation. As Jag Reports reported, US energy concern Chevron - which is working on shale gas exploitation in Poland and Romania - bought Lithuanian private company Investicijos stakes in shale gas fields' exploitation in Lithuania.
By the operation, which is endorsed by former PM Andrijus Kubilijus, Lithuania joins Poland, UK, Germany and Romania among the EU countries which endorse shale gas exploitation in Europe.
Thanks to shale gas exploitation, the USA became the first gas world exporter overcoming Russia, Iran, Qatar and Turkmenistan.
According to several data, a shale revolution, similar to the US one, is possible also in Europe.
Matteo Cazzulani
