The long-awaited LNG terminal project on Krk could become a reality.
Mladen Antunović, director of the LNG Croatia, says that the LNG terminal project on the island of Krk is at the mature stage and that its realization is certain. This time around, Croatia will succeed and it will be to the benefit of all the stakeholders on the gas market, said Antunović at the beginning of the traditional three-day gathering of gas experts in Opatija. The event attracted about 500 experts from more than 20 countries, reports Večernji List on May 5, 2016.
“The LNG terminal construction is both a Croatian and European strategic project and it is on the list of the European projects of the common interest, and also on the list of priorities regarding the central and eastern Europe, which is why the European Commission financed the preparations for the project with the grant of five million euros”, he added. The LNG Croatia company, as the leader of the project to build the LNG terminal, has closed the public call for investors and received bids from some of the most prestigious companies in the world dealing with LNG, as well as from financial institutions.
Deputy Economy Minister Leo Prelec said that the amendments to the Law on the Gas Market were being planned. One of the main reasons for the changes is that the country has received the objections from the European Commission regarding its model for regulation of prices in public services.
Prelec also announced the liberalization of the wholesale gas market, which would not include the obligations for producers, while the role of suppliers would remain but would be redefined. All the suppliers in the system of public services will be able to continue to use the wholesale supplier’s services, but they will also have the opportunity to enter the market independently. In addition, Prelec agreed with the significance of the LNG project and stated that it was the high time to realize it.
Dalibor Pudić, a member of HERA Management Council, said that a recovery in the gas consumption was registered in 2015, as well as a significant price decrease. He said he hoped that the investors and the leased capacity of the LNG terminal would ensure full gas pipelines and therefore a lower tariffs for the gas transport and the final price of gas.
