Naftogaz Group has for the first time directly booked long-term LNG regasification capacity in Europe, securing access to Lithuania’s Klaipėda terminal from 2033 through 2044. The allocation was completed by terminal operator KN Energies, with four other companies — Equinor, Ignitis, Latvenergo, and Gasum — also securing long-term rights to use the facility.
Until now, Ukraine’s state energy company had conducted similar operations only in cooperation with international partners rather than booking capacity on its own.
Naftogaz Books Klaipėda LNG Capacity for the First Time
The Klaipėda booking marks a clear departure from how Naftogaz has historically operated in European LNG markets. The Ukrainian state energy company had previously engaged in LNG operations only alongside international partners — never by holding terminal capacity directly in its own name.
That changed with this allocation. KN Energies ran the capacity assignment procedure and confirmed Naftogaz as one of five successful participants. The others — Equinor, Ignitis, Latvenergo, and Gasum — are established European energy players, and Naftogaz’s inclusion alongside them signals a meaningful shift in the company’s market standing.
The capacity covers the 2033–2044 window, giving Naftogaz over a decade of secured access to one of the Baltic region’s most strategically positioned import facilities.
Why Naftogaz Pursued Direct Capacity Booking
The decision to book capacity directly — rather than through a partner — is not a minor operational detail. It reflects a deliberate change in strategy.
Previously, Naftogaz relied on cooperation with international companies to carry out LNG-related operations. That approach worked, but it also meant depending on others for access and planning flexibility. Direct booking removes that dependency entirely.
Holding its own long-term capacity gives Naftogaz greater autonomy. The company can now make decisions about LNG imports years in advance without needing a third party to hold the terminal slot on its behalf — a practical advantage that compounds over time.
The move also broadens Naftogaz’s direct participation in the global LNG market, which has grown considerably in importance for Europe since 2022. Diversifying away from Russian pipeline gas has been a central objective, and locking in terminal access through 2044 is a concrete step toward it.
Implications for Ukraine’s Energy Security
Naftogaz CEO Sergii Koretskyi described the deal in direct terms. “This marks a new level of co-operation and supply planning,” he said. “Decisions like this are strategically important for Ukraine’s energy security.”
He pointed to two distinct benefits: the booking expands Naftogaz’s access to the global LNG market, and it strengthens what he called “the long-term resilience of Ukraine’s gas supply” — a phrase carrying particular weight given the ongoing war.
Koretskyi also acknowledged Ukrainian government support and Lithuanian partners as essential to making the deal happen. Energy agreements of this kind require coordination across regulatory, diplomatic, and commercial channels simultaneously, and the fact that it came together reflects real institutional alignment between Kyiv and Vilnius. He also framed the deal as relevant beyond Ukraine, reinforcing energy ties across a wider European region where supply security remains a shared concern.
Background: Klaipėda Terminal and Ukraine’s LNG Diversification Push
The Klaipėda LNG terminal has been a fixture of Baltic energy independence since it opened in 2014. Lithuania built it explicitly to reduce dependence on Russian gas, and it has served that function for over a decade. Its location on the Baltic Sea keeps it accessible to LNG shipments from suppliers around the world.
For Ukraine, the urgency of diversification accelerated sharply after Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Since then, Naftogaz and the Ukrainian government have worked to identify alternative supply routes and infrastructure access points across Europe.
Long-term terminal capacity bookings are a standard tool in European gas markets — they allow buyers to guarantee access to import infrastructure years ahead of time, a critical advantage when supply security is uncertain and competition for LNG runs high. This deal fits squarely within that framework. According to Naftogaz, the Klaipėda booking is part of a broader program to expand the company’s access to alternative natural gas supply infrastructure across Europe.
More Independence for Naftogaz
Naftogaz has secured LNG regasification capacity at Lithuania’s Klaipėda terminal for the 2033–2044 period — the first time the company has done so directly. The allocation was run by KN Energies, with Equinor, Ignitis, Latvenergo, and Gasum also receiving long-term rights. Together, the deal gives Naftogaz greater independence in supply planning, expands its role in the global LNG market, and forms part of Ukraine’s wider effort to build energy resilience away from Russian pipeline infrastructure.
