en.Wedoany.com Reported - Ukraine's national oil and gas company, Naftogaz, has directly booked long-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification capacity in Europe for the first time, securing access to the Klaipėda terminal facilities in Lithuania from 2033 to 2044. Terminal operator KN Energies executed the capacity allocation process, with Naftogaz joining Equinor, Ignitis, Latvenergo, and Gasum in obtaining long-term usage rights for the facility.

Previously, the Ukrainian state-owned energy company had only participated in LNG operations through partnerships with international collaborators, never directly holding terminal capacity in its own name. This direct booking marks a significant shift in Naftogaz's operational approach in the European LNG market. The facility has been a symbol of Baltic energy independence since its launch in 2014, with Lithuania building the terminal to reduce its reliance on Russian natural gas.

Directly booking capacity rather than through partners reflects a deliberate strategic shift. Holding its own long-term capacity grants Naftogaz greater autonomy, allowing the company to make LNG import decisions years in advance without needing third parties to hold terminal slots on its behalf. This move also expands Naftogaz's direct participation in the global LNG market—a market that has grown significantly in importance for Europe since 2022. Reducing dependence on Russian pipeline gas has been a core objective, and securing terminal access until 2044 represents a concrete step toward this goal.

Naftogaz CEO Sergii Koretskyi stated that this marks a new phase in cooperation and supply planning, with strategic importance for Ukraine's energy security. He noted that the booking expands Naftogaz's access to the global LNG market and strengthens the long-term resilience of Ukraine's natural gas supply. Koretskyi also acknowledged the crucial support of the Ukrainian government and Lithuanian partners in facilitating the deal, adding that it strengthens energy ties across the broader European region where supply security remains a shared concern. According to Naftogaz, the Klaipėda booking is part of a broader plan to expand the company's access to alternative natural gas supply infrastructure in Europe.

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