Page 10 - EurOil Week 06 2021

EurOil PIPELINES & TRANSPORT EurOil

Gazprom halts gas flows

to Kaliningrad

RUSSIA RUSSIAN gas monopoly Gazpom temporarily (HU-LCD), say the decision to suspend transit
suspended gas transits to the Russian exclave is geopolitical, adding that it is a sign for Lithu-
Lithuanian politicians of Kaliningrad via Lithuania on February 8, ania that it cannot delay the implementation of
say the decision was citing insufficient gas stocks in a local storage strategic energy projects, including the power
political. facility.They were then resumed on the night network synchronisation and the GIPL gas
of February 9. But experts remain baffled so interconnection with Poland.
far as to what reasons prompted Russia to act Paulius Saudargas, of the HU-LCD and a
in this way. member of the parliamentary Commission on
“To me, it looks like Russia is performing Energy and Sustainable Development, believes
gas sector exercises, gauging the reactions of Russia is now using various ways to test systems
neighbouring Lithuania, too, but there might in the Kaliningrad region that need gas for their
be more reasons (for the suspension) unknown power production.
to me,” Vidmantas Jankauskas, the former According to him, Russia is probably send-
head of Lithuania’s energy regulator, Lithua- ing a signal, as they want Kaliningrad, in case of
nia’s Energy Pricing and Control Commission necessity, to be independent from transits via
(VKEKK), said. Lithuania.
The exclave received the 174,000-cubic Rytas Staselis, an expert from the National
metre Marshal Vasilevskiy LNG carrier in Jan- Lithuanian Energy Association (NLEA), believes
uary 2019, serving as a floating regasification that similar tests are taking place in Kaliningrad,
and storage unit. But after arriving fully laden but probably not involving the whole system.
it received no cargoes and has been leased. On He says he believes that the Astravyets NPP
February 9 it was sailing to a final destination in and Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline issues are rather
the Far East. an accompanying natural background for the
Kaliningrad’s only other option is piped gas situation around gas transit to Kaliningrad, all
via Lithuania. the more so because there is a contract, valid
Meanwhile, representatives of the Lithu- until 2025, with Gazprom and gas is trans-
anian ruling block’s chief party, Homeland ported to Kaliningrad based on the “ship or pay”
Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats formula.™

P10 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 06 11•February•2021