On 23 May in Washington, D.C., Lithuanian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Egidijus Meilūnas and Special Envoy of the United States Secretary of State for Eurasian Energy Ambassador Richard L. Morningstar discussed the energy projects that are developed in the Baltic region and in which Lithuania is taking the lead.
During the meeting, Special Envoy R.Morningstar highlighted the importance of energy projects implemented by Lithuania to all the Baltic States.
The interlocutors agreed to further expand and intensify the co-operation of Lithuanian and U.S. state institutions in the field of shale gas production.
“We have excellent opportunities to open up new pages of co-operation with the U.S. administration and private U.S. energy companies. Therefore we invite the U.S. administration to cooperate with us more actively”, the Vice-Minister said.
He invited the U.S. administration together with Lithuanian experts to hold a regional conference on the shale gas production in the Baltic basin.
Special Envoy R.Morningstar informed Vice-Minister E.Meilūnas that on 20 May the U.S. Department of Energy licenced the U.S. energy company “Cheniere“ to export liquefied gas from the U.S.A. and to supply them to “Cheniere“ partners and clients all over the world. Such an export licence was issued in the U.S.A. for the first time in the last 40 years.
“The export of liquefied gas from the U.S.A. to the markets of Europe and the whole world will significantly influence the gas prices in Lithuania as well. Currently, we receive gas from Russia and its price is much higher than the price on the internal U.S. market. It is very important that the Lithuanian company “Klaipėdos nafta” has already started talks with this U.S. company”, Vice-Minister E.Meilūnas said.
According to him, the decision by the U.S. Department of Energy to issue the export licence to the “Cheniere“ company is an important sign for Lithuania as well.
During the visit of Lithuanian Energy Minister Arvydas Sekmokas to the U.S.A. on 9-13 May, “Klaipėdos Nafta” and “Cheniere” companies signed a protocol of intent regarding the possibility to supply the Lithuanian company with liquefied natural gas in the future.
Vice-Minister E.Meilūnas also acquainted Special Envoy R.Morningstar with the Lithuanian claims regarding the intentions of Russia to build a nuclear power plant in Belarus, as well as non-conformity of international transparency commitments in developing the nuclear energy.
URM
25.05.2011
