The Lithuania LNG terminal, operated by KN (Klaipėdos Nafta), which resumed operations on 1^st of May 2021, is expecting to receive its first LNG cargo from Egypt on Friday, 7^th May 2021.

LNG carrier LNG Fukurokuju, which was built in 2016 and currently sailing under the flag of the Bahamas, is to deliver the cargo from the Idku natural gas liquefaction plant in Egypt.

Klaipedos Nafta recently launched an annual capacity booking procedure for the Klaipėda LNG terminal and by the start of the new gas year, thirteen (13) more LNG carriers are expected at the LNG terminal (including the LNG Fukurokuju).

Commenting, the Chief Sales Officer at KN, Mindaugas Navikas, said: “As the prices of LNG are still high in Asia, a large part of cargo from Europe is diverted exactly there by taking advantage of the spot market opportunities, and a certain new-found niche is filled by Egypt, which has been less visible on the map of European LNG suppliers so far. What is more, Egypt announced in January that it would significantly increase exports to Europe to meet the growing demand for LNG here. Taking into account both the requirements of Klaipėda LNG terminal equipment and the requirements of the Lithuanian natural gas market, the natural gas liquefied in Egypt are suitable for our natural gas system in terms of its calorific and energy value.”

According to Navikas, the 2021 natural gas year, which is from 1^st October 2020 to 30^th September 2021, has been importing more cargoes from the USA, about 82%. This is due to the shutdown of the Equinor plant in Norway, which plans to resume operations next spring. In the natural gas year 2019 and 2020 the majority of the LNG was imported from Norway, which was about 86% and about 70% respectively.