Three Baltic states, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia and the Nordic country Finland plan to develop the concept of a natural gas hub in the region to diversify gas sources, according to Catharina Sikow-Magny, the European Commission's head of unit in charge of internal market, networks and regional initiatives in the Directorate General of Energy.
Magny told Anadolu Agency that these four countries are in the process of merging their gas markets into one to cover supplies to all.
She explained that for the time being all countries operate more or less like and island and are all dependent on Russian gas except for LNG from Lithuania's Klaipeda LNG terminal.
However, an interconnector to Poland would change this allowing greater connection between all countries so common rules and procedures across the four countries could be developed into the concept of a hub, she explained.
Progress towards this aim is on track with important planned projects like the Balticconnector between Finland and Estonia and Poland-Lithuania interconnection project (GIPL) between Poland and Lithuania.
Construction of the GIPL is set to start by December 2019. The Baltic States and private investment along with the commission’s contribution will fund the €558 million project, she said.
The gas pipeline will stretch some 357 kilometers in Poland and 177 kilometers in Lithuania. It will be capable of delivering 2.4 billion cubic meters of gas per year from Poland to Lithuania, and 1 billion cubic meters of gas per year from Lithuania to Poland.
The Balticconnector is a gas pipeline connecting Finland and Estonia. It will link the Finnish and Baltic gas markets, enabling their integration with the EU’s common energy market. Furthermore, the construction of new gas infrastructure in the Baltic States will allow bi-directional gas transmission between Estonia and Latvia.
"The main aim is to have access to diversified sources of gas. Russian gas, LNG and through the GIPL pipeline to different gas sources through Poland. It could be Norwegian gas or other type of gases as well," she said.
The three Baltic States and Nordic countries have already cooperated for the synchronization of electricity networks through recently developed cable projects.
"What is key is to make sure that the internal grid between the three Baltic States is efficiently built and operated because that allows for Latvia to take part in the Nordic market either through Finland or Sweden," she said.
The important thing is to see that every country is well connected to each other, she concluded.
By Murat Temizer
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr