Samenvatting

The aim of this dissertation is to research if and how Lithuania’s LNG terminal could be a method to ensure energy security within the European Union. Lithuania’s energy position has been a very vulnerable one, and used to import 100% of its gas supply from Russia’s state monopoly Gazprom. In order to become independent from Gazprom and to diversify the gas supply in the country, Lithuania has established the Klaipeda LNG terminal in 2014. Not only Lithuania, but also other member states in the EU rely heavily on Russian gas, and this paper explains how LNG contributes to a higher energy security. LNG is a great way to diversify energy, mainly because countries do not need to be connected to the pipelines of the supplier, because it can be transported to them.
Therefore, vulnerable countries with insufficient pipeline connections are able to transport LNG to their pipeline. Nevertheless, LNG technologies are costlier than natural gas, but advanced technologies are able to contribute to lower prices. The European Union has several strategies and communications on energy security, and the basis of this lies with the Lisbon Treaty. For the EU: energy security should ensure the functioning of the energy market, secure supply (SOS), and advance new and renewable energy, as well as advance interconnected networks within the MS. The EU does recognise that LNG ensures better market competition as well as help secure supply better through diversification. Nevertheless, looking at long-term solutions, LNG is not a sufficient means to ensure energy within the EU. Even though it has great advantages and helped secure energy in Lithuania, it is still enhancing greenhouse emissions. To combat climate change, the EU wants to move away from fossil fuels and establish an economy build upon RES and energy efficiency by 2050. This is not easily to obtain, and therefore, at least on the short and medium term, LNG can be used by European member states as a diversifying method.