直至2044年立陶宛都购买LNG船以进口LNG

中国石化新闻网讯 据路透社12月18日报道称，立陶宛已经批准国有企业Klaipedos Nafta在2024年底之前购买液化天然气（LNG）储存船，以支撑能源供应并减少对俄罗斯天然气的依赖。

Klaipedos Nafta目前正从挪威的Hoegh液化天然气公司租赁一个名为Independence的浮式储存和再气化装置（FSRU）。

自2014年以来，该船的使用使立陶宛得以进口液化天然气，打破了俄罗斯天然气工业股份公司对该国以及邻国拉脱维亚和爱沙尼亚天然气供应的垄断。

立陶宛能源部长Zygimantas Vaiciunas表示：“这将使我们能够在2024年之后加强我们的能源安全并确保俄罗斯天然气的价格压力。”立陶宛议会投票决定，至少在2044年之前运营该国的液化天然气进口设施。

立陶宛的天然气使用量一直在减少，部分原因是2014年之前天然气价格居高不下。政府表示，使用液化天然气迫使俄罗斯将其天然气价格下调三分之一，从而削弱了其利用燃料成本作为政治压力手段的能力。

Klaipedos Nafta首席执行官Mindaugas Jusius告诉路透社，该公司将在2021年至2024年期间进行FSRU的国际招标。目前为期10年的独立租约将于2024年底到期，但一种选择是购买租赁船舶。

立陶宛政府在向议会提交的一份文件中表示，该国将向Klaipedos Nafta提供高达1.6亿欧元的贷款，以资助购买或更换FSRU。

董飞 摘译自 路透社

原文如下：

Lithuania to buy LNG vessel, import LNG until at least 2044

Lithuania has given the go ahead to state-owned Klaipedos Nafta to purchase a liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage vessel by late 2024, as it shores up energy supplies and reduces its reliance on Russian natural gas.

Klaipedos Nafta is currently leasing a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), called Independence, from Norway's Hoegh LNG.

The use of the vessel has allowed Lithuania to import LNG since 2014, breaking the monopoly Russia's Gazprom had on natural gas supply to the country as well as neighbouring Latvia and Estonia.

"This will keep us able, beyond 2024, to strengthen our energy security and ensure pricing pressure for the Russian gas," Lithuania energy minister Zygimantas Vaiciunas said, as parliament voted to operate the country's LNG import facility until at least 2044.

Natural gas use has been dwindling in Lithuania, partly in response to high gas prices before 2014. The government said use of LNG had forced Russia to cut its natural gas prices by a third, removing its ability to use fuel costs as a means of political pressure.

Klaipedos Nafta will run an international tender for a FSRU between 2021 and 2024, its CEO Mindaugas Jusius told Reuters. The current 10-year lease on Independence runs out at the end of 2024 but one option is to purchase the leased vessel.

The state will guarantee a loan to Klaipedos Nafta of up to 160 million euros to finance the purchase or replacement of the FSRU, Lithuania's government said in a submission to the parliament.