LNG projects in Ukraine and Lithuania

Expected benefits for Ukraine

A supportive legal framework for the development of LNG and renewable energy is in line with the goals of the EU Green Deal.

LNG terminals will provide Ukraine with cheap and sustainable energy which will help the country to diversify its gas market and access LNG from various sources, and therefore increase interconnection of Ukraine with European energy grids.

The Ukrainian LNG infrastructure, which is currently under construction, may be used for exporting gas to Europe, therefore contributing to the goal of secure and diversified energy supplies as outlined by the EU Green Deal.

Ukraine has suitable ports for the implementation of the EU’s alternative fuels infrastructure directive.

The LNG project will enhance not only employment but also environmental protection necessary for reaching carbon neutrality in the future.

Finally, there is a wider general context of climate cooperation between the EU and Ukraine which had existed before the EU Green Deal and is now particularly relevant due to the "Ukrainian Green Deal" project which has been launched in 2020 and includes an ambitious goal of receiving 60 % of national energy from renewable sources by 2050.

Ukraine and European Green Deal

On 24 January 2020, the Government of Ukraine established an inter-institutional group to coordinate the effects of climate change within the framework of the European Green Deal. Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration chairs the work of this group.

In August 2020, Ukraine passed to the European Commission a position paper on Ukraine’s vision of implementing the European Green Deal.

In the document, the Government of Ukraine proposes to establish a structured and regular dialogue with the EU on modalities of early involvement of Ukraine into the development and implementation of policies under the European Green Deal and develop a joint Roadmap for Ukraine's participation in it.

Expected benefits for Lithuania

1. The current European Commission's objective to securitize and diversify the energy sector is in line with the Green Deal and justifies the following facts:

The growing LNG cargo quantity from the US;
The opening of new gas pipelines to Finland and Poland.

2. As a result, Lithuania will not only diversify its energy sources but can be turned into a regional supply hub.

3. Being an energy hub, Lithuania will attract finances, create new workplaces. Also, it will increase its strategic importance and overall status.

4. The expansion of the natural gas infrastructure increases the potential to implement the desired non-fossil gas within it. Gaining this chance, Lithuania would increase its role as implementer of the Green Deal objectives.

“Our ambition is to grow into the largest operator of LNG import terminals worldwide.”

Mindaugas Jusius, Klaipedos Nafta CEO