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Lithuania’s PM to negotiate gas export price with Gazprom

Lithuania believes that it pays a groundlessly high price for gas supplies

VILNIUS, February 7 (Itar-Tass) — Lithuanian Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius will meet with Gazprom Export CEO Alexander Medvedev on Tuesday to discuss a Russian gas export price and modernization of the Baltic state’s gas network in line with the EU antimonopoly requirements.

“The gas pricing policy should top the talks’ agenda,” he said. “It is very important for us to have gas pricing principles transparent in the future and complying with the effective agreements,” he said.

Lithuania believes that it pays a groundlessly high price for gas supplies – much higher than its neighbours – Estonia, Latvia and many other European countries - do.

“I hope that after the meeting we will be able to conduct with Gazprom constructive talks on modernization of the gas pipeline network and the gas pricing policy,” he said.

“This meeting is of special importance for us, as Gazprom will remain a serious player on our country’s gas market even after the launch of a LNG terminal,” Kubilius said.

A LNG terminal will be launched in Klaipeda seaport at the end of 2014. It will help Lithuania that now fully depends on Russian gas supplies to partially diversify them.

The prime minister considers a changing situation on the global gas market another favourable factor for Lithuania.

According to Lithuania’s media, in 2010-2011 the Baltic state paid for Russian gas $356 per 1,000 cubic meters on the average, while Latvia and Estonia imported gas for $310 and $309 per 1,000 cubic meters respectively.

Local experts say Gazprom set such a high price for Lithuania in response to its intention to translate into reality the EU requirements on antimonopoly package.

For some unclear reasons until recently the Lithuanian authorities avoided any talks with Gazprom. It was the Russian company that initiated the meeting that will take place on Tuesday.