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According to M.Skuodis, Lithuania’s plans to increase the airport’s capacity are being corrected by the coronavirus crisis, which has paralyzed the aviation business. No other seaport is needed both because of potential competition from Klaipeda and because of the ship repair industry, which is important from a national security point of view.
„Kovidas the aviation industry has been the hardest hit. Passenger flows at airports have drastically decreased and that recovery is that we are returning to precovidial situation, it will probably be in the middle of the legislature of this Government ”, said on Wednesday M. Skuodis in the Economic Committee of the Seimas.
According to him, the construction of a new airport or the expansion of existing ones as much as possible requires a cost-benefit analysis, which is not yet available.
“I can see from the figures that the construction of the airport is not a matter for the government in this period, unless we reach the limits of airport capacity and then there is a need to make decisions,” said the designated minister.
“Personally, I have no answer on whether we really need an external seaport, because its construction will have a significant impact on the Klaipeda port,” he said.
“In terms of their cargo handling volumes (Klaipeda Port – BNS) and their capacity limits, they are far from being fully utilized. Once we build an outer port, we will have to understand what will happen to the current port. Will large ships really want to sail to the current port? ”Commented M. Skuodis.
From the figures, I see that the construction of the airport is not a matter for the Government of this legislature.
Among other things, he emphasized that not only cargo handling is done at the sea port, but also at the Western Shipyard, which is the largest employer in the Klaipeda port.
“Knowing that the shipbuilding industry in Europe is an industry in decline, we have Lithuania, Finland and everything in Southeast Asia. This is also the aspect of national security, “said M. Skuodis.
Last year it was announced that an outer seaport could be built in the northern part of the current port, but this requires a strategic environmental impact assessment and two alternatives, in Melnrage and in the Šventoji-Būtingė area.
Last year, the Ministry of Transport and Communications forecast that the port’s cargo handling volumes could naturally reach 65 million in 2030. tons per year, and in 2040 – 91 million. heaps. In other scenarios, cargo handling could increase to 130-186 million tons.
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