Having completed the works of the Enhancement of Latvia-Lithuania interconnection (ELLI) project a year earlier, the Lithuanian gas transmission system operator Amber Grid has increased the capacity of its gas pipeline by one-third. It improved the region’s gas supply opportunities and allowed for a faster filling of Latvia’s Inčukalns underground gas storage facility, which stores gas for all countries of the Baltic region. Lithuania’s implementation of the ELLI project has increased the integration of the Baltic gas market and the energy security of the region.
As a part of the ELLI project in Lithuania, Amber Grid expanded the Kiemėnai gas metering station in Pasvalys district and increased its capacity. It also reconstructed gas pipelines of the Panevėžys gas compressor station, enabling more gas to be transported from the Klaipėda LNG terminal to Latvia. The pipeline now allows transmitting 90 gigawatt hours (GWh) of gas per day, which is 30% more than before.
Nemunas Biknius, CEO of the Lithuanian gas transmission system operator Amber Grid, says that this year Lithuania has become a guarantor of the region’s security of gas supply. "With the rapid implementation of the ELLI project in the context of the ongoing war, we have further strengthened our value in the regional gas infrastructure. We have done our homework ahead of schedule to allow gas to flow in large volumes between Western and Central Europe, the Baltic region and Northern Europe. Lithuania is ready for a cold winter, and by increasing capacity we are helping the whole region. The Klaipėda LNG terminal, the GIPL and ELLI interconnection projects implemented this year have substantially increased Lithuania's gas infrastructure capacity, creating economic and geopolitical benefits. I invite all European market players to benefit from direct access to Latvia's gas storage facilities, which have been opened up for gas transport via the GIPL interconnector with Poland, Lithuania's well-developed infrastructure and the expanded interconnection with Latvia," said Mr Biknius.
The increased gas flow to Latvia immediately attracted the interest of gas market participants. The additional capacity created between Lithuania and Latvia is already used mostly to 100%, which will mean higher revenues collected for gas transport through our pipelines in the future, lower maintenance costs for the Klaipėda LNG terminal and an overall decrease in energy prices.
“We completed the ELLI project a year ahead of schedule on Lithuania’s part. This required good planning and strong project management. Inspiring motivation of the Amber Grid team, proper involvement of contractors and the common desire of all to strengthen Lithuania's energy independence and regional security led to an excellent result. I am pleased that we are seen as a reliable partner in Europe," says Mr Biknius.
The ELLI project in Lithuania was carried out by the energy contracting companies MT Group and Alvora. The remaining works on the ELLI project in Latvia will be completed in 2023. They are carried out by Conexus Baltic Grid, the Latvian gas transmission system operator. The completion of the works in Latvia will nearly double the capacity of the gas interconnector between Latvia and Lithuania in both directions.
The ELLI strategic energy project is included in the EU's List of Projects of Common Interest, the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas (ENTSOG) Ten-Year Development Plan, and the Implementation Plan for the National Electricity and Natural Gas Transmission Infrastructure Priority Projects.
A brief overview of the ELLI project:
The image is a visualisation of the ELLI project.
