Meeting with U.S. Vice President Biden, Lithuania's Prime Minister invited American shale experts to work in his country on Friday.
Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius was invited to the White House to meet Biden to discuss energy issues, among other topics. Later Butkevicius also met with a group of U.S. shale gas experts.
Butkevicius invited U,S, investment in the shale sector in Lithuania. 'Lithuania is establishing favourable conditions for shale exploration and extraction,' Butkevicius said. 'I hope that the vast experience of the US in prospecting and exploiting shale resources will provide us with necessary input and provide a new impulse to develop these energy resources,” Butkevicius said. 'Shale gas exploitation would contribute to the energy independence of the country.'
The two leaders discussed European energy security and bilateral relations between Lithuania and US. They also talked about the crisis in Ukraine, the coalition fighting in Syria, and a range of other matters.
Biden said that the US is grateful to Lithuania for its leadership within the EU on dealing with the crisis in Ukraine. The Vice President also strongly supported Lithuania’s membership in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
The Lithuanian government is preparing a tender for shale exploration in the country to be offered in 2015. However, the American energy company Chevron withdrew its offer for a shale gas exploration license in Lithuania in October 2013. Chevron said that changes in the fiscal, legislative and regulatory climate are the reasons for its withdrawal.
by Murat Temizer
Anadolu Agency