Russian gas: strategy and threats

摘要

Russia looks set to lose a significant chunk of its formerly captive pipeline gas business in Central and Eastern Europe to LNG as early as 2015, with further losses if new nuclear plants are built in the region. Although the wave of new LNG terminal construction in western Europe has largely abated, plans in eastern and central Europe are gathering momentum. The Lithuanian parliament voted in July to approve an €83 million ($106.4 million) state loan guarantee to Klaipedos Nafta, the company that is constructing a 4 Bcm a year LNG import terminal in the country, which will also service Estonia and Latvia.