Lithuania still undecided on building gas storage facility

“The amount is large enough and we believe that such a storage facility would be practical if we received European support. Whether it is possible or not to get such support, should be known in 2016… Lithuania’s actions will also depend on our relations with the Latvians and on access to the Incukalns storage facility, since we have to find the most cost effective option,” Rokas Masiulis told reporters after the government’s meeting on Wednesday.

The minister believes that Poland’s participation in the project would improve chances to get EU support.

Asked which option – Syderiai or Incukalns – would be more cost-effective, Masiulis said that the respective calculations still had to be made.

“Then we’ll see. It will also depend on negotiations. It’s difficult to say thus far,” the minister said, adding that Poland was seen as the most feasible partner for applying for the EU support.

Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius said that Latvia had not yet implemented the EU’s Third Energy Package and had not yet established clear and non-discriminating rules on third party access to the Incukalns storage facility, hence Lithuania still considered the alternative of storing gas in Syderiai.

He also spoke about the importance to agree with Poland on the Syderiai project.

Masiulis explained that the storage facility in Syderiai would be able to hold the volume of approximately 1 billion cubic meters, including a 500-million cubic-meter gas ‘cushion’. The capacity of the storage facility could be increased if necessary and the project would be implemented in approximately 7 years.