Loosing itself from the chains of total reliance on costly Russian gas supplies, we investigate moves in Lithuania and Europe at large towards greater energy independence.

Diversifying gas supplies for energy independence

1,224 km long, the North Stream Pipeline  is truly a gas highway under the Baltic sea.

Since 2012, two pipelines  connect Russia and Germany.

They can deliver over 55 billion  cubic metres of gas every year -

In June 2015, Russia and Gazprom  made clear their intention

to build two new pipelines  along the same route.

But the plans have set teeth on edge,  especially in the European Parliament.

The reason: Europe will be increasingly  dependent upon Russian gas.

Russia and Gazprom’s strategy is clear:

cutting and shutting off  Ukraine from transit

with all the geopolitical  and economic consequences;

hurting Central  and Eastern European countries,

by making gas delivery more difficult  and more expensive;

and creating a more dominant position,  thus undermining competition.

Russia provides more than 40%  of gas imports in Europe.

In 2014, six Member States  were 100% dependent on them.

Among them was Lithuania, an  unsustainable position for Rokas Masiulis,

Since Gazprom was the only gas supplier,

they tried to abuse their dominant position  by charging us more for gas

than they would be charging  their other customers in Europe.

So ultimately, there was  a short period of time

when Lithuania was paying  the highest gas price in the world.

To break up Russia’s monopoly, Lithuania  is using this vessel - The Independence.

It is a terminal hired for 10 years  from a Norwegian company,

it can receive liquefied gas, vaporise it and  then inject it into the country’s gas network.

It is a vital strategic investment  claims this MEP.

Finally we have an alternative  for gas supply.

Immediately we got a reaction  from Gazprom,

Gazprom reduced the price of  the natural gas it sells to Lithuania

and other Baltic countries,  because it saw the market situation.

Since being installed, Russian gas prices  have fallen 19% in Lithuania.

This was the clincher that pushed Poland  to build its own liquefied gas terminal,

which could be used to import gas  Made in the USA – especially shale gas.

It’s very important that we construct our  LNG terminals, and to use them properly.

Properly means to open our gas market  to the United States.

They have a lot of gas, the prices  of their natural gas are very low.

Is liquefied gas the only alternative  for attaining energy independence?

building a gas pipeline  connecting the country to Turkey

which has gas supplies  from the Caspian sea.

The EU countries the future trans-Adriatic  pipeline will cross will benefit.

One billion cubic metres  will be dropped off in Greece,

that represents around  25 to 30% of that market.

One billion cubic metres will hopefully  be dropped off in Bulgaria,

that represents 35 to 40% of that market.

The remaining 8 billion cubic metres  will then be in the Italian market,

which represents approximately 12 to 15%.

So when you look at it  from a regional perspective,

it is really important  because it provides for the first time

real competition  in terms of those gas markets.

Back in Lithuania where interconnecting  European gas networks

is central to the EU-backed energy strategy.

A prime example, Lithuania and Poland  have given the green light

for the construction of a gas pipeline  to connect the countries by 2019.