This week, Klaipėda is hosting the third Baltic LNG & New Energies Forum, which focuses on regional cooperation for energy security and a smooth energy transition. The international forum, organized in collaboration with the international energy terminal operator KN Energies, brings together over 150 participants from the European energy sector, including international experts and decision-makers.

This year's event emphasizes increasing Europe's LNG supply capacity and adapting existing energy infrastructure to meet future energy needs and reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. It also highlights the importance of regional cooperation in developing energy infrastructures suited to new energy sources, such as hydrogen, offshore wind, and biomethane, which will play crucial roles in achieving Europe's climate goals.

"Europe now has two key energy goals: to move rapidly towards climate neutrality and to secure its energy needs and stable supply while minimizing geopolitical risks. Reconciling these objectives requires coordinated action and the development of necessary infrastructure. New challenges and objectives dictate essential changes in the energy system transformation, which we have the opportunity to discuss at the Forum," said Inga Žilienė, Lithuanian Vice-Minister of Energy. The Vice-Minister reviewed the main aspects of the National Energy Independence Strategy, addressing key issues at the event.

To emphasize the importance of new energy sources and the growing industry focus on them, this year's event has been renamed from the Baltic LNG and Gas Forum to the Baltic LNG & New Energies Forum.

"With the climate neutrality deadline looming, Europe and our region need to accelerate energy transformation while ensuring energy security and independence. This requires cooperation between countries, which is a precondition for a stable and assured transition from strategic dependencies and CO2-intensive energy to climate-oriented infrastructure. The Baltic LNG & New Energies Forum is a relevant and timely platform for promoting such cooperation and finding the best solutions, which is particularly relevant to KN Energies as it aims to become climate neutral by 2050," said Darius Šilenskis, CEO of KN Energies.

According to Darius Šilenskis, Lithuania has valuable experience in achieving energy independence, and Klaipėda's role as a regional hub for LNG and terminal services makes the country strategically important for the Baltic region's energy supply chains. It is therefore no coincidence that energy experts and industry representatives are gathering in Klaipėda.

During the Forum, industry experts, company and association representatives, regulators, and decision-makers from various countries gave presentations, commented on case studies, and reviewed the latest trends in the sector.

Topics included the potential of new energy sources, the role of LNG in the green transformation, market forecasts for LNG products, the potential role of Ukraine's gas infrastructure in securing Europe's energy independence, and discussions on technological innovations in energy infrastructure, among others.

Klaipėda LNG Terminal Operator SC KN Energies (hereinafter - Company) informs natural gas market participants about the planned announcement of the commencement of allocation of LNG Terminal SPOT LNG cargo capacities for October 2024.

Taking into account the provisions of the approved Regulations, the Company informs about the planned announcement of the invitation to submit applications for the acquisition of LNG Terminal SPOT cargo capacities:

• Size of spot cargo: 1 000 000 000 kWh +- 5%. Requests for different size of cargo are considered, however the priority is given to Conventional size of cargo.
• Preliminary Spot cargo LNG regasification capacity usage period: September - November 2024.
• Spot cargo delivery window: 16-17th October or other date agreed with Terminal Operator.

 
The closing date and time for request submissions: 17th June 2024 at 16:30 EEST.

Update (June 17): the closing date and time for request submissions extended until 21st June 2024 at 16:30 EEST.

PRELIMINARY REGASIFICATION SCHEDULE

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the arrival of the Klaipėda LNG terminal vessel Independence, a key factor in Lithuania's energy independence. This milestone coincides with the transfer of ownership of this strategically important floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) to Lithuania. To commemorate these events and to symbolize Independence as a lighthouse of Lithuania's path to freedom, the vessel has been adorned with a special weathervane, highlighting significant moments in the country's history for independence. This initiative was spearheaded by its commercial operator, KN Energies.
 
The Weathervane of Freedom that adorns FSRU Independence was created in collaboration with renowned Curonian weathervane maker Vaidotas Bliūdžius, historian Norbertas Černiauskas and muralist Artur Širin. It retains the form of the traditional weathervane of the Curonian Spit, but its modern symbols tell the story of Lithuania's freedom and signify the nation's uncompromising pursuit of independence, both political and energy. The weathervane's symbolism is also a reference to the name of the FSRU.
 
"The mooring of the Independence in the Port of Klaipėda in 2014 was a historic event, comparable in significance to Lithuania's accession to the European Union and NATO. In today's geopolitical landscape, true political independence is impossible without energy independence. Thanks to the Independence, Lithuania secured this and became the first European country to completely refuse Russian gas imports. This achievement marks an important milestone in Lithuania's journey to freedom and stands as a symbol of that journey. This significance is now commemorated by a unique weathervane adorning the terminal's hull," says Darius Šilenskis, CEO of KN Energies.
 
In this weathervane inspired by the folk art traditions of the Curonian Lagoon coasts, which date back to the 19th century, the history of Lithuania's independence is being depicted by symbols of the signing of the Act of Independence on February 16th, the 1944-1953 anti-Soviet resistance, the activities of the Lithuanian Resistance Movement, activities of Reform Movement of Lithuania, the tragic events of January 1991, and the country’s accession to NATO and the EU in 2004. This sequence of important historical events ended by the mooring of the Independence in the port of Klaipėda in 2014.
 

"The Curonian Spit decorative weathervanes, which are included in the list of intangible cultural values of Lithuania, are found nowhere else - only in our country. It is a unique object of folk art and an authentic storytelling tool that has been preserved until today. Each element of the weathervanes created by the inhabitants of the Curonian Spit had a meaning and was connected to the common story of the fisherman's origin, history, values, and faith. This form is also preserved in the Independence weathervane, which will tell everyone who looks at it about Lithuania as a freedom-loving country," says V. Bliūdžius, who contributed to the creation of the weathervane.
 
A 31-metre-long and 8-metre-high weathervane, printed on special film, adorns both sides of Independence's hull in the forward part of the vessel. The weathervane was applied at a shipyard in Denmark, where Independence was undergoing maintenance and repair work in May this year.
 
The Independence, built by South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd shipyard, docked at Klaipėda Port in October 2014 and commenced commercial operations in 2015. Until now, Lithuania has been using the vessel under a lease agreement, but it has been decided to buy out the FSRU, which will be transferred to the ownership of Lithuania this year.
 
Klaipėda LNG terminal is one of the most important facilities ensuring Lithuania's national energy security, which created the conditions for the emergence of a natural gas market in Lithuania and opened the possibility to import natural gas from all over the world. In the wake of Russia's attack on Ukraine in 2022, Lithuania has completely refused to import Russian gas and is meeting all its natural gas needs through Independence.
                            
KN Energies is an international energy terminal operator that ensures safe and reliable flows of liquid energy, loading of chemicals and raw materials for users of the Baltic Sea region, and helps clients all over the world with knowledge and skills to develop sustainable energy infrastructure projects. The company currently operates three terminals of liquid energy products in Klaipėda, Subačius and Marijampolė, and is an operator of liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals in Lithuania and Brazil. It also provides commercial operation services for four floating LNG terminals in Germany including technical operation and maintenance services for the LNG terminal Wilhelmshaven 2.

The European Commission has granted the status of Project of Common Interest (PCI) to the carbon dioxide (CO₂) capture and transportation project in Lithuania and Latvia developed by the consortium named CCS Baltic Consortium. The consortium consists of Akmenės cementas AB, KN Energies, AB, Larvik Shipping AS, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. and SCHWENK Latvija SIA.

This grant means that the project is recognized as a key cross-border infrastructure project which will significantly contribute to the implementation of the energy policy and climate goals of the European Union (EU). There are only 14 CO₂ infrastructure projects listed in this award round as either PCI or Project of Mutual Interest (PMI) which is for key projects between the EU and non-EU countries. PCI and PMI can benefit from a number of advantages including eligibility for financial support named Connecting Europe Facility.



The consortium was formed in 2022 with the purpose to create a carbon capture and storage (CCS) value chain in Lithuania and Latvia, which would include capture of CO₂ generated in the industrial sector and onshore and offshore transportation to permanent storage sites. Many works such as analysis, feasibility studies and applications for this grant have been completed for the project, with commencement of operations scheduled in 2030. The PCI grant will surely accelerate future activities for materialization of the project.
 
Currently in Lithuania as well as in neighbouring Poland and Latvia, underground CO₂ storage is prohibited. Therefore, CCS can become an important option for companies in these countries facing challenges to achieve their decarbonization goals solely through process optimization. The consortium hopes that the CCS value chain created by the project will be used widely in the region and will contribute to resolution of climate issues on a larger scale.
 
(Project Value Chain)
 
Comment from Akmenės cementas, CEO, Artūras Zaremba:
“This area is particularly relevant in sectors for which a quick transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy resources is difficult, for example in our industry – cement production. What‘s more, CCS is one of the most advanced technological solutions that could significantly contribute to the decarbonisation of the cement industry”
 
Comment from KN Energies, CEO, Darius Šilenskis:
“The project launched by the CCS Baltic Consortium is the first one of its kind in the Baltic region.  In contrast, the rest of Europe has already progressed in exploring the prospects of carbon capture as a viable decarbonization option. Teaming up with partners in the CCS Baltic Consortium, we're committing to creating a sustainable carbon capture and storage value chain, contributing to EU's energy and climate goals. Also this initiative reflects KN dedication to a more sustainable future”
 
Comment from Larvik Shipping, Managing Director, Espen Tollevik:
“Larvik Shipping is honored to be part of the CCS Baltic Consortium. With a unique track record of safe and reliable carriage of liquified CO₂ by ship over the past 35 years of our operations, we look forward to bringing our experience in the sector to benefit the Baltic CCS project and emitters across the region”
 
Comment from Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Executive Officer, Suryan Wirya-Simunovic:
“We are very grateful that our continuous activities have been evaluated in the form of PCI grant. We, as a shipping company and an interconnector of CCS value chain, will devote ourselves to offering flexible and sustainable solutions so that the project can take on an important role in decarbonization of the Baltic area and more widely Europe.”
 
Comment from SCHWENK Latvija, CEO of SCHWENK Northern Europe, Reinhold Schneider:
“Carbon capture is simultaneously one of our industry’s key tasks for the next decade, a major technical challenge and a pre-condition to the sustainability of and, ultimately, to the competitiveness of the GHG-intensive industrial sites like ours. To enable both processing and storage of the hopefully soon-to-be-sequestered CO₂, we need to partner with relevant experienced industry players who know how to handle and deliver this GHG at great quantities. Hence we are part of CCS Baltic Consortium which seeks to set up respective infrastructure and provide an option for CO₂ captured in the Baltics to be permanently stored offshore or brought to processing hubs.”