Lithuania stops Russian gas imports via terminal in Klaipėda, cuts off Russian electricity – minister

Lithuania has stopped imports of small cargoes of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) via the port of Klaipėda. The decision came into effect on Thursday, according to Energy Minister Dainius Kreivys.

“Any imports of Russian gas via the LNG terminal have been stopped – there are no more small cargoes,” he said during a news conference on Thursday.

Small LNG cargoes were regularly brought to Klaipėda from the Russian port of Vysotsk, where Russian company Novatek has its production facility.

Russian gas accounted for approximately 20 percent of the total volume handled by the Klaipėda LNG terminal last year.

Moreover, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have agreed to cut off commercial electricity flows from Russia as of Thursday, according to Kreivys.

"Commercial traffic from Russia is reduced to a minimum technical level. This is the decision of all three Baltic states, which was taken yesterday. We ensure the operation of the system with local generation, imported through interconnections with Sweden, Poland, and Latvia,” the minister said

In his words, Lithuania is prepared for possible Russian attacks against the country’s energy sector.

"There is still a possibility that Russia may take action against the Baltic energy system,” Kreivys said. “In December, we tested a synchronised interconnection with Poland, and on Thursday, […] I agreed with the country’s ministers on synchronised assistance in case of unforeseen circumstances.”