Lithuania is ready to facilitate Belarus’ break from its dependence on the Russian gas, Lithuanian Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius. Lithuanian Government by November should give a finale verdict on Belarusians’ possibilities to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal could be built in the Lithuanian port Klaipeda. The Venezuelan oil bound for Belarus in the near future could also be handled at oil product terminal Klaipedos Nafta (Klaipeda Oil), Kubilius said.
PM Kubilius, who is on his bicycling holiday in Belarus said to Ziniu radijas on 29 June that since the gas consumption in the both countries is different the initial construction of the Lithuanian and Belarusian LNG’s should proceed separately. Lithuania is planning to build an LNG terminal with capacity for 3 billion cubic meters a year. The Byelorussians need an LNG terminal with capacity of 8 to 10 billion cubic meters a year. The both countries consume according amounts of gas annually.
Prime Minister Kubilius has also stated that in the near future a first shipment of the Venezuelan oil for Belarus could be handled at Lithuania’s Klaipedos Nafta (Klaipeda Oil). He said to Ziniu radijas, ‘Talks are underway to use the Klaipedos Nafta terminal’s capacities. There is a possibility that the first such oil shipment will reach Belarus via Klaipedos Nafta in the near future. The whole technological line will be tested whether it is worthwhile.’
In May media reported that an additional works would have to be done in order to be able to handle the Venezuelan crude oil shipments for Belarus. It was reported that while the Lithuanians were calculating the cost of such adjustment Minsk began considering to choose Tallinn over Klaipeda.
