Customs War: Exceptions to Energy Resources

The minister cherishes hope

The Minister of Energy Žygimantas Vaičiūnas, who visited Washington last week, emphasized that imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States could be increased to the highest possible amount through the Klaipėda LNG terminal.

« We see great potential for even broader and more intensive cooperation. LNG imports from the US via the Klaipėda LNG terminal could be increased to the maximum possible amount, ensuring the needs of the whole region, » said Ž. Vaičiūnas.

According to the minister, the other use of the terminal is to contribute to the needs of Ukraine’s gas supply using the terminal capacity and the Lithuanian -Polish pipeline (GIPL).

The ministry’s report points out that Lithuania has acquired a significant share of gas from the US in recent years, most LNG is imported from the US and Norway.

Since 2017 A total of 80 American gas cargo reached Klaipeda.

Lithuania was one of the first European countries to start LNG imports from the US. No Russian LNG cargo did not impress in February.

Chancedness: According to D. Šilenskis, CEO of KN Energy, the supply of gas cargo from the US to Klaipeda LNG terminal in the short term should not be affected. / Photo by Vytautas Petrikas

Perspectives of the effect of tariffs

Darius Šilenskis, CEO of KN Energies operator of the LNG terminal, shared his insights into the financial impact of US tariffs in the near future.

« The US has announced new import rates applicable to almost all commodity groups, but exceptions to energy resources, including liquefied natural gas. Šilenskis.

However, according to the CEO, the growing tensions between the United States and the EU in the long run can lead to various retaliation measures that could affect supply and energy prices in the future.

« Customers of Klaipeda LNG terminal should not be disturbed in the short term, but when analyzing this situation, it is important to consider possible regular changes and dynamic geopolitical context, » emphasized D. Šilenskis.

According to KN Energies, the American gas cargo made a relatively significant part in recent years in the Klaipėda LNG terminal.

For example, 2022 SGN from the US accounted for 65 % of the LNG from the US, 2023. – 51 %, 2024. – 43 percent.

In the first quarter of this year (January -March, 2025), the LNG from the US accounted for as much as 52 percent. of all liquefied natural gas brought to the Klaipėda LNG terminal.

The US has announced new import rates applicable to almost all groups of goods, but exceptions to energy resources, including liquefied natural gas.

Significant achievement of the year

The LNG terminal operator’s KN Energies website announces that the company had met in mid -March with a significant achievement – a 500 ship -LNG loading operations were performed at the terminal since the beginning of its operation.

It is symbolic that both the first and the owner of the five hundredths of the anniversary-Ignitis, the owner of the five hundredths.

The 500th cargo reached Klaipeda LNG terminal specifically from the US.

« The 500th LNG stevedoring operation is important not only to the Klaipėda LNG Terminal, but also to achieve the energy security of the whole region. It is all of us-KN Energies team, which has been effectively planning and implementing operations for a decade, the Hoegh LNG Klaipėda technical operator of Independence and the terminal customers. For a decade, the region has been supplied with gas from the terminal, and no safety incident has been recorded in the terminal throughout this period, ”said Mindaugas Navikas, Commercial Director of KN Energy, on the company’s page.

It is estimated that since the launch of the LNG terminal activities in 2014 In October, the terminal overloaded about 205 teravatt hours (TWH) LNG.

Most of them were brought from Norway (52 %) and the US (37 %), but Klaipeda also reached the LNG from Nigeria, Trinidad and Tobago, Egypt, Algeria and elsewhere.

The terminal is used by customers of five countries – Lithuania, Poland, Latvia, Norway and Estonia.

Darius Šilenskis / Photo by KN Energy

Energy security guarantee

The liquefied natural gas terminal consisting of the Independence ship, the quay and the pipeline branch, was the first such technology-based terminal in the Baltic region and throughout Northern Europe, and the second in Europe.

Last December, KN Energies took over the ownership of the LNG Ship-Storage Independence, the ship was included in the Register of Sea Ships of the Republic of Lithuania and the state flag fluttered on it.

LNG imports from the US via Klaipeda LNG terminal could be increased to the maximum possible amount.

Klaipeda LNG Terminal is one of the most important objects of national energy security, which created the conditions for the emergence of natural gas market in Lithuania, and the state and its citizens have opened the opportunity to import natural gas from around the world.

Natural gas can be supplied by consumers from different suppliers at market prices.

Klaipeda LNG Terminal Ship-Stores in Klaipeda Seaport moored 2014. At the end of the 19th century, commercial activities started in 2015.

Klaipeda LNG terminal operates in the southern part of Klaipeda State Seaport – the Curonian Lagoon at the Pig’s Back Island.