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Project partners involved in the 'Blue Baltics' project - an EU initiative aimed at developing and establishing an LNG bunkering network in the Baltic Sea - met for the first time in Klaipeda, Lithuania, on 14th March.

Speaking after the meeting, Marius Pulkauninkas, acting CEO of Klaipedos Nafta AB, said: "The progress achieved in the projects implemented by every country is evident, and this LNG infrastructure network is planned to become fully active by mid-2019."

The main objective of the project is to develop a 'maritime LNG mobile multifunctional refilling station' (MMRS) that would connect the floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) Independence to the LNG reloading station in Klaipeda and enable LNG bunkering to shipping vessels.

The project is being coordinated by Klaipedos Nafta, operator of the floating LNG terminal in Lithuania and responsible for the development of the LNG reloading station, which is scheduled to start operating later this year. The company also operates the Klaipeda Oil Terminal.

"Specifically in the Lithuanian context, the project has a potential to turn Klaipeda into a fully-fledged LNG hub serving as gateway for the LNG supply chain in heavily trafficked but environmentally clean the Baltic Sea Region," noted Brian Simpson, European Coordinator for the Motorways of the Sea (MoS) programme.

Estonia and Sweden

As well as Lithiania, the Blue Baltics project also involves EU members Estonia, Sweden and Germany.

As part of the initiative, 14 LNG containers, one mobile LNG/CNG filling station and a LNG/CNG pumping station will be purchased and deployed to serve customers in Estonia. This will enable the bunkering of cargo vessels and ferries at the Estonian ports of Tallinn, Parnu and their satellite ports, as well as the provision of CNG for urban transportation.

At the LNG terminal in Nynashamn, Sweden, investments will be made to establish LNG reloading and bunkering facilities to enable LNG reloading as well as its further distribution along the Swedish shore and its neighbouring regions.

Other project members

Meanwhile, Germany's Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) is implementing an LNG ship transportation project using a 7,500-cubic-metre (cbm) gas supply vessel (GSV) to perform ship-to-ship LNG refuelling in the Baltic Sea. Estonia's Alexela Energia AS is planning to develop a chain of LNG filling stations for sea, commercial and public consumers; and Klaipeda State Seaport Authority is involved in modifying the Klaipedos Nafta-operated jetty for the loading of LNG.

Financing

Approximately EUR 3.1 million is being allocated to the Blue Baltics financing programme for the Klaipedos Nafta LNG reloading station.

The total investment into five projects amounts to EUR 47,6 million, and the funds allocated under the Connecting Europe Facility's (CEF) Motorways of the Sea (MoS) programme total EUR 15 million.

Image: The floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) Independence, operated by Klaipedos Nafta.