LNG to gain momentum in the Baltic - Baltic Ports LNG Forum 2015

Apr 28 2015

LNG to gain momentum in the Baltic - Baltic Ports LNG Forum 2015

The inaugural Baltic Ports LNG Forum took place on April 23rd, 2015 in Lithuanian port city of Klaipeda. This year’s event covered informative theoretical and practical background during the Bunkering Training for Port Communities and interesting case studies presented during the conference.

“We are now on the right track to boost the awareness and support for clean fuel initiatives. It seems natural to see a raising interest in LNG as the better alternative, and the increasing number of shipowners considering to renew their fleet is encouraging for us to work on the infrastructure development” said Mr. Per-Olof Jansson, the Project Leader of LNG in Baltic Sea Ports Projetcs, who gave a welcome to the gathered experts. Following that, Mr. Rokas Baliukovas (Vice-Minister of Energy, Lithuanian Ministry of Energy), together with Mr. Arturas Drungilas (Director, Marketing and Administration, Port of Klaipeda) and Mr. Mantas Bartuska (CEO, Klaipedas Nafta) presented their welcoming words and officially opened the conference.

Mr. Bogdan Ołdakowski, the Secretary General of the Baltic Ports Organization started the official agenda with a topic concerning development of LNG infrastructure and updated on the network of planned LNG terminals in the Baltic Sea Region. Mr. Tadas Matulionis, the LNG Terminal Director at Klaipedos Nafta, presented the highly anticipated FSR, its implication and security of LNG supply and distribution system in the region. On behalf of Klaipedos Nafta, Mr. Matulionis also announced the forthcoming LNG oriented development plans of the terminal.

Mr. Benjamin Janke from Bomin Linde, presented the well-known LNG storage and ship-to-ship bunkering case study of Seagas LNG Fuelling Vessel, underlining the numerous partnerships established to support the LNG development at the Baltic Sea. In his speech, Mr. Janke also indicated several drivers about to increase LNG volume in the world market, such as massive export volume in Australia or the US projects that will flood the market by 2016.

Mr. Segiu Maznic – the Senior Consultant at Sund Energy AS gave the most awaited prospects for LNG pricing and the influencing factors: above all decreased fuel prices. So is it really attractive to switch for LNG now? Indeed, there is currently a significant oversupply in the LNG market but this is about to change as more and more competition at the market will reduce margins.

Forum’s Discussion panel concentrated within the latest LNG hot topics in the Baltic Sea Region: the LNG ports infrastructure, encouraging LNG synergies among energy and transport to increase demand and diving fuel prices – impact on LNG costs and distribution.

Following panelists – experts and leaders in the LNG field gave their opinion on the Forum’s discussion topics: Anita Mäkinen (Chief Adviser, Finnish Transport Safety Agency), Sandra Gegerfelt (Public Affairs Officer, Ports of Stockholm), Artūras Drungilas (Director, Marketing and Administration, Port of Klaipeda), Andrius Uldukis (Station Manager, Maritime Services Klaipeda & Kaliningrad, DNV GL), Benjamin Janke (Director Sales & Business Development, Bomin Linde LNG GmbH & Co. KG) and Andrius Sutnikas (Project Manager, Martech LNG).

This year’s Baltic Ports LNG Forum has gained a positive perception among the participants and was summarised by Mr. Emil Arolski –project manager of LNG in Baltic Sea Ports Project, co-financed by the EU TEN-T Multi-Annual Programme, established to foster a harmonised approach towards LNG bunker filling infrastructure in the Baltic Sea area.

The event concluded with a site visit by boat to the LNG terminal and FSRU ,,Independence”.