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However, the representatives of the rulers say that the interruption of the traffic may be a geopolitical solution, and this is a signal for Lithuania that the strategic energy projects, the synchronization of the electricity networks and the gas pipeline to Poland (GIPL), they cannot be delayed.
Conservative Paulius Saudargas, a member of the Seimas Energy and Sustainable Development Commission, believes that Russia is currently inspecting systems in the Krasnodar region, which needs gas for electricity generation, in various ways.
They will probably send us the signal too, because they want Kaliningrad to be independent of Lithuanian transit, if necessary. (…) They provide gas to Lithuania, everything is in order, this in no way affects the Lithuanian system, we 30 percent. we get gas from Russia, 70 percent. from LNG (Klaipeda LNG Terminal – BNS), ”conservative P. Saudargas told BNS.
Luke April / 15min photo / Paulius Saudargas
Rytas Staselis, an expert from the Lithuanian National Energy Association (NLEA), tends to agree with the position that similar tests are being conducted at Karaliaučiai, but probably not on all systems.
“I think it’s more like the first option to test the stocks in stock, obviously not the whole system, because that’s your FSRU (LNG ship – BNS) now off the coast of Africa and it probably can’t emerge quickly from Africa to try liquefied gas again. These are more indications than there are, which would indicate some more serious problems, ”R. Stassel told BNS.
According to the ship monitoring portals myshiptracking.com, marinetraffic.com, andESSelfinder.com, the LNG storage vessel Marshal Vasilevsky is currently located off the west coast of South Africa near Cape Town.
Energy expert Vidmantas Jankauskas says that Russia may very well want to ensure the readiness of the energy system in Königsberg.
“You know how they imagine: that if Lithuania comes up with the idea of preventing them (…), because there (in Königsberg – BNS) there is an alternative supply system, that ship, it is probably just interesting for them to test how it works, “said BNS. V. Jankauskas.
According to Seimas member P. Saudargas, it is difficult to say whether the decision to temporarily suspend transit through Lithuania was planned in advance, without hearing about technical problems or accidents in Karaliaučiai.
“Apparently they are planning to support this for a week, five or six days as I understand it. “They probably have their reserves for about 20 days in storage, so they can afford all kinds of tests here,” said the politician.
He noted that there is a large military complex in Karaliaučiai, and the power supply in this area is very important for Russia, which in turn becomes a warning also for Lithuania.
Politicians: Don’t delay with sync and GIPL
The conservative Žygimantas Pavilionis, chairman of the Seimas Foreign Affairs Committee, says there may be technical problems in Karaliaučiai, but it would not be strange if the traffic disruption was used as a geopolitical issue.
“It just came to our knowledge then. Of course, there may be technical things, (…) but, as you know, Russia is very fond of using those energy weapons to solve geopolitical problems. I notice an intensification of the media, apparently encouraged by someone, to attack our Minister Kreivis (Minister of Energy Dainiai Kreivis – BNS) for not buying Astrava electricity. The man could just clearly name what the previous government could not name, based on facts, “Ž.Pavilionis told BNS .
“I cannot predict those Kremlin decisions, but I could assume that the Kremlin does not like very much that we put our finger in our eyes and say: dear ones, the laws are valid in Lithuania,” said the politician.
He did not rule out that the gas transit situation is also related to the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline that Russia is currently building on the bed of the Baltic Sea, which is fueling passions in Europe.
“It may also be related to our unchanging position on Nord Stream. As you know, the temperature is rising in Berlin itself, and we will consider further sanctions on Putin on February 22, hopefully Borrell (EU Head of Diplomacy – BNS) has awakened from his naivety and he’s already talking about those sanctions himself. I communicate with my colleagues in Germany, I know honest Germans are talking about it louder and louder, “said Ž. Pavilion.
Photo by Julius Kalinskas / 15min / Žygimantas Pavilionis
The Seimas member said it was necessary to continue fighting for Russia’s energy independence.
“We need to overcome this dependency and join the continental electricity system as soon as possible, and complete our connection with Europe in terms of gas and free ourselves from those last shackles,” he urged.
Mr. Saudargas also stated that it was necessary to continue with the strategic projects.
“His departure to a fully autonomous regime would mean that we are no longer needed as a transit state at all, and then the question of our autonomy arises: and are we independent?” Saudargas said.
R. Stassel: A more interesting topic of gas prices
R. Staselis stated that he currently does not see a threat to Lithuania running out of gas, as it has two other sources of gas supply: the Klaipeda LNG terminal and the Inčukalnis gas storage facility in Latvia.
“There is a terminal and a storage room, it seems to me that ours have also pumped gas in Inčukalnis, I really don’t see that,” I said.
Photo by Sigismund Gedvila / 15min / Morning Staselis
However, according to the expert, doubts arise about the possible increase in gas prices.
“Unlike last year, cold weather, lots of snow across Europe, increased demand, Gazprom is likely to increase sales of piped gas to Europe, and the question is how those prices: if the pipelines become more expensive, How will this affect gas prices? (…) Everything may stabilize more in the spring, but so far that environment is not very favorable for prices, ”said R. Staselis.
He tends to believe that the issues of the Astrava nuclear power plant (CN) and the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline are a natural background quite accompanying the situation with the gas transit to Königsberg, all the more so if the agreement with Gazprom until 2025 foresees for a “ship or pay” condition.
Gas transmission system operator Amber Grid announced on Tuesday that gas transit through Belarus and Lithuania to Königsberg was temporarily suspended at the request of Gazprom.
Gazprom said the area had enough gas now in its underground storage facility.
Nemunas Biknius, director of Amber Grid, told BNS that there have been similar cases in the past where traffic was disrupted during repairs. He could not answer whether repairs were being carried out in Königsberg, but when asked if it would be a secret if he did, he replied “I think not.
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