Authors:
Nataliya Katser-Buchkovska, Andrian Prokip, Iliya Kusa
Editor:
Tetyana Torchylo
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
GAS SUPPLY IN UKRAINE AT THE
TURN OF 2020: STATE, THREATS, AND
PROSPECTS
LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS MARKET
AT THE TURN OF 2020. GLOBAL AND
REGIONAL CONTEXT
ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF LNG
PROJECT COMPONENTS FSRU
SUMMARY
LINKS
LNG import
INTRODUCTION
01
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is rapidly changing the structure of the global gas industry.
Flexible in transportation, safe in use, and competitive in supply, LNG today has already
won more than 40% of the physical volume of world gas exports and is expected
to reach 60% by 2040. In 2020, the development of the LNG market underwent
significant transformations, as the COVID-19 pandemic posed a challenge to the global
economy. The pandemic forced the world’s leading countries to rethink the role of coal
and, instead, prioritize more environmentally friendly fuels, including natural gas. The
United States of America, the European Union, and Asia’s most developed countries
are already incorporating general decarbonization trends into their legislations by taxing
industrial CO2 emissions and supporting low-carbon business. One by one, financial
corporations refuse to invest in environmentally harmful projects. Due to the counties’
and regions’ active switching from coal to more environmentally friendly fuels, the
world’s energy sector will undergo even more significant changes in the future. In this
process, natural gas will play the role of marginal fuel, facilitating the transition from
coal to renewable energy sources and being a partner of green energy by firming it.
Ukraine is not yet a full-fledged player in the LNG market, despite all the prerequisites
for this. With a favorable geographical location in the heart of Europe, a well-developed
infrastructure for gas transmission and distribution networks, a significant economic
growth potential, modern maritime infrastructure, a security need in diversifying gas
supply routes, and an urgent necessity to replace coal generation, the state should be
interested in identifying its supply routes as soon as possible and in using opportunities
to develop its own LNG regasification infrastructure.
The development of Ukrainian LNG infrastructure is important primarily from a
geopolitical point of view. Through reverse supplies from Slovakia, Hungary, and
Poland via existing gas transport corridors, Ukraine, on average, imports between 10
and 14 billion m3
of gas 1
. In the medium term (5-7 years), Ukraine can diversify gas
supplies by establishing LNG routes through the infrastructure of neighboring countries
or by building its own infrastructure. Among Ukraine’s potential partner countries are
Lithuania, Poland, Turkey, the United States, Qatar, Azerbaijan, Croatia, and others.
LNG is a new global gas trend, and it can play an essential role in strengthening
Ukraine’s geopolitical position in the region. High-quality LNG infrastructure is needed
to increase regional cross-border trade, competitiveness, and flexibility in the energy
market. It is crucial for Ukraine to build regional political, economic, and security
alliances based on joint infrastructure projects with partner countries. Restructuring
the energy sector, strengthening LNG trade with other countries, and establishing new
supply routes – all these tasks require time and precise diplomatic work, significant
private investment, and close public-private partnerships.
The use of LNG will also allow Ukraine to reap economic benefits, which is especially
needed in times of economic downturn. Seasonal volatility of the LNG price in the
spot market, growing demand and trade volumes, as well as instability in the oil market,
make LNG financially attractive for Ukraine.
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The development of LNG infrastructure will be an essential step towards
decarbonization. Ukraine’s energy sector is currently at a dangerous crossroads. While
the prospect of focusing on traditional sources looks attractive during the economic
downturn, further investment in fossil fuels will have a negative economic effect in the
medium term. Natural gas is the most environmentally friendly fossil fuel to replace
coal and firm green energy production. Besides, as the fight against global warming
intensifies, more and more countries are trying to minimize the carbon footprint in the
LNG trade, so even cleaner technologies will soon emerge, potentially reducing the
carbon footprint of the LNG infrastructure.
This study was initiated by the Ukrainian Institute for the Future, a leading Ukrainian think
tank that analyzes major political and economic trends in the country and formulates
strategies for key reforms and is supported by the International Renaissance Foundation.
LNG import
02
GASSUPPLYINUKRAINE
attheturnof2020:
STATE,THREATS,AND
PROSPECTS
Natural gas has always been a vital energy resource in Ukraine. Even though the
reduction of its industrial consumption, economic slowdown, the partial substitution
with other types of energy resources, and, to some extent, the energy efficiency
improvements resulted in the overall gas consumption decline in recent years, today, gas
still plays an important role in the national energy balance: 26.3% in the total primary
energy supply and 27.3% in the total final consumption of energy resources.
Graph 1. Energy balance of Ukraine 2009-2019 2
Total primary energy supply
Total final consumption
Generalcharacteristics
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The state-owned companies of the Naftogaz group remain the key players in natural
gas production. Thus, the largest companies in terms of production in 2019 were
Ukrgazvydobuvannya (14.9 billion m3
), DTEK (1.66 billion m3
), Ukrnafta (1.2 billion
m3), UNB (0.74 billion m3
), Burisma (0.7 billion m3
), Smart Energy (0.37 billion m3
), PPC
(0.28 billion m3
), Geo Alliance (0.21 billion m3
), and KUB-GAS (0.13 billion m3
).3
Besides, Naftogaz is the key Ukrainian gas trader. According to Naftogaz’s 2019 annual
report, in 2018, the group’s share on the Ukrainian Energy Exchange (UEEX) was only
2%; in 2019, however, Naftogaz alone was responsible for over 40% of the UEEX
transactions. 5
Graph 2. Dynamics of gas production in Ukraine, 2015-2019 4
Graph 3. Top-20 largest natural gas traders in Ukraine
As of 2019, the balanced (production) subsoil reserves of natural gas in Ukraine were
882.6 billion m3
. The reserves could provide Ukraine with gas for 42 years ahead
(assuming the fixed production rate). 6
Ukraine annually produces only 2.4% of its
total natural gas reserves, while developed countries produce about 6% per year. 7
By the Order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine from 28.12.2016 № 1079-p, the
government approved the Concept to Develop Gas Production Industry of Ukraine
by 2020, which was aimed to increase gas production and attract investments in the
industry. However, the concept was never really implemented.
According to Ryder Scott Company’s calculations, Ukrgazvydobuvannya’s confirmed gas
reserves are 276 billion m3
, about 30% of Ukraine’s total subsoil reserves. 8
In addition,
it is critical to note the annual growth of production and technological costs (PTC) of
Ukrgazvydobuvannya. While in 2016, PTC was 0.7 billion m3
, at the production level of
14.5 billion m3
, in 2019, they rose to 1.2 billion m3
, at 14.84 billion m3
level. 9
Among everything, 2020 was marked by the conclusion of seven production sharing
agreements (PSAs), competitions held a year earlier. These are Buzivska, Berestyanska,
Balakliyska, Ivanivska, Sofiivska, Zinkivska, and Uhnivska sections, with a total area of
over 7,000 km2
. The companies undertook to drill more than 30 wells; the guaranteed
investment in these projects will be at least $355 million.10
The accomplishment is very promising for the industry, as transparent competitions
and the establishment of favorable conditions for the winners will attract investors
with a clearly defined list of investment commitments and work programs to develop
large-scale and complex projects. Thus, the concluded agreements will allow to achieve
reliable cooperation, stable flow of investments, job opportunities expansion, and
development of the country’s gas potential. The conclusion of seven deals was also a
positive shift compared to the results of 2015 when Shell and Chevron canceled their
PSA projects. It is also worth mentioning the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers to sell
the Yuzov section of Naftogaz, which promises to expand the development of one of the
largest deposits in Ukraine in the coming years.
For a long time, the development Dolphin offshore gas field remained uncertain.
Located in the northwestern part of the continental shelf of the Black Sea, with an area
of 9.5 thousand km2
and total reserves of 286 million tons of conventional fuel, the
field was especially important for Ukraine. Finally, in 2021, Naftogaz received 20 special
permits to use the subsoil of the Scythian field and the Dolphin field for the next 30
years. 11
Despite the significant role of gas in Ukraine’s energy sector, our domestic production is
insufficient to meet local needs. Over the past three decades, Ukrainian production has
been about 20 billion m3
per year, while domestic consumption was almost 30 billion m3
of gas per year. That is why Ukraine has been and remains dependent on gas imports.
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Graph 4. Dynamics of volumes of consumption and import of natural gas
in Ukraine 1999-2019 12
In addition, given the decarbonization trend of the next 20-30 years, the demand for
fossil fuels is expected to fall sharply. Consequently, falling demand would decrease
global gas prices and economic incentives to invest in extractive industries.
Besides declining exports, gas-producing countries will face a rapid reduction of
investment in fossil fuels. International financial institutions are already refusing to
finance oil and gas production, redistributing capital in favor of renewable energy and
hydrogen. Thus, taking the current trends into account, the question of increasing gas
production’s feasibility in Ukraine remains open.
The collapse of the Soviet Union and the declaration of independence forged new
political and economic conditions for Ukraine. Suddenly Ukraine had to shift to the
different rules in the economy and adapt to the new interstate relations.
The abolishment of the production and logistics chains between the former Soviet
countries became one of the most critical causes of the economic crisis that caused
the recession of 1991-1994. As a result, there was a shortage of liquid funds to pay for
energy consumption. Moreover, the government struggled with rapid change in the
economic model – from administrative command to the market transitioning and did
not fully understand that the incoming energy resources would come at a price and the
price would be much higher than before. At first, the authorities did not understand
what for and later were not ready to bring the gas price to market levels for both
household and industrial consumers.
Lack of market understanding laid the preconditions for the growing debts in gas
payments and the first gas conflicts between Ukraine and the Russian Federation. A
few years later, Russia realized that the energy lever was the most effective tool to
pressure neighboring countries and force them to be loyal to the Kremlin.
Ukrainian debts for Russian gas began to accumulate already at the end of 1991,
immediately after the collapse of the USSR. It was also during that time when the first
reports from the Russian side about the intention to cut off gas supplies appeared.
However, no actual steps were undertaken. Russia’s threats did not change the
situation, and Ukrainian debts continued to accumulate.
On August 20, 1992, Russia and Ukraine signed the agreement, according to which
the former agreed to supply 70 billion m3
of natural gas to Ukraine for domestic
consumption and 100 billion m3
of gas to transit to other European countries. 13
Consequently, these and subsequent debts, which accumulated in the form of technical
loans, were restructured into the public debt of Ukraine with a plan for its further
repayment (such debt restructuring mechanisms were used during 1993-1995).
However, the payment mechanism remained flawed, and in August 1993, Russia cut off
the gas supply for 11 days.
HistoryoftheUkrainianGas
IndustryandUkrainian-Russian
GasRelations
Gas relations with Russia after Ukraine’s
independence
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Ukraine’s trump card, of course, was in transit, and as a result of intergovernmental
negotiations, gas supplies were restored. As Ukraine lacked funds for the full payments,
Russia offered to lease the Ukrainian gas transmission system (GTS), yet Kyiv did not
accept the offer.
The debt for gas supplies also did not play in Ukraine’s favor in the summer of 1993,
during the division of the Black Sea Fleet. At Russia’s request, the issue of repaying gas
debts was at the top of the agenda. To sign the Massandra Accords, Ukraine had to
cede to Russia a significant part of the Black Sea Fleet’s property as a way to repay gas
debts. This agreement was the first manifestation of the critical importance of the gas
issue for Ukraine’s national security, integrity, and sovereign policy. However, energy-
related matters continued to be underestimated in domestic and foreign policies.
In early 1994, Russia suspended supplies to Ukraine for several days due to a rapid
increase in debt and, as compensation, in turn, unsuccessfully demanded ownership of
gas assets. However, later Ukraine had to agree to compromise, thus agreed to transfer
for temporary use a part of the Black Sea Fleet’s infrastructure and abandon some of
the claims during the dispute over the division of Soviet property abroad. As of the end
of 1994, the debt to Gazprom was already over $2 billion. 14
Gas conflict of 2005-2006
In 2004, Ukraine signed a five-year contract to supply gas from Central Asia for
$50 per thousand m3
. However, the Orange Revolution rapidly changed Ukrainian
political elites and shifted the foreign policy direction away from Russia, changing
the gas supply’s political and economic conditions accordingly. Thus, in December
2004, Turkmenistan demanded an increase in gas prices from Russia and Ukraine from
$44 to $60, and by December 31, unexpectedly, it stopped supplies altogether. The
negotiations with Ukraine followed immediately, and soon the price was agreed at
$58. Besides, countries agreed that the gas would be supplied by the newly formed
company Rosukrenergo. Supplies from Turkmenistan to Russia resumed only in May
after both sides agreed on price terms. 15
In 2005, the Ukrainian side finally abandoned the idea of a tripartite consortium (it
was supposed to consist of Ukraine, Russia, and a European country – for example,
Germany), which emerged during Leonid Kuchma’s presidency. The consortium would
own and operate the Ukrainian GTS. The renunciation of this idea put an end to
Russia’s intentions to continue using the Ukrainian gas route only. Instead, it created
an incentive for Russia to consider the construction of gas pipelines bypassing Ukraine.
This became a new page in Russia’s use of political instruments for influence. The
refusal also triggered Russia to discredit Ukraine as a reliable supplier in order to gain
support for the construction of new gas pipelines in Europe.
After Ukraine rejected the idea of a consortium in the summer of 2005, the Russian
Duma voted to set European gas prices for some post-Soviet and post-socialist
countries, including Ukraine. This was another attempt to acquire influence over
Ukrainian GTS. It sang with the period of rising prices for oil and other energy sources,
so the gas price for Ukraine became 3-4 times higher than for some European
countries.
In the first quarter of 2006, Gazprom bought all the gas available for pumping in
Turkmenistan and demanded Ukraine to pay $230 per thousand m3
for the supplies.
Ukraine refused, and so on January 1, 2006, supplies ceased. Therefore, Ukrainian
transit to the EU and other countries was sharply reduced: Austria, Italy, Poland, France,
Hungary, Slovakia, and Romania – all reported declining shipments.
European discontent hastened the resolution of the dispute. Gazprom and Naftogaz
settled the problem and signed a 5-year contract, which established Rosukrenergo as
the gas supplier and banned gas re-export. Rosukrenergo was supplying a mixture of
gas from Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Russia. Ukraine and its companies
did not directly contract gas from these countries, as Gazprom-Export carried out
the operation. Accordingly, the price was tied to the conditions set by the supplier
countries. Naftogaz and Rosukrenergo have set up a joint venture, Ukrgaz-Energo, to
supply gas to large consumers within Ukraine.
Gas conflict of 2008-2009
Despite the signed contract, Ukraine was not entirely satisfied with Rosukrenergo’s
participation in supplies, mainly due to Ukraine’s debts to Gazprom. The split in political
elites on this confrontation led to a new, even sharper round of gas wars between
Ukraine and Russia. At the end of 2007, Russia planned to increase the price for gas
supplies to Ukraine by 38%. 16
Later, after a break of almost two weeks in gas transit,
the parties signed a contract with gas prices tied to oil and take-or-pay commitments.
Kharkiv agreements of 2010
The globally increasing energy price also affected the price for gas imports under the
current contract. This prompted Ukraine to seek additional gas price discounts. Under
the Kharkiv agreements ratified in April 2010, Ukraine received a 30% discount on gas
to extend Russia’s lease of the Black Sea Fleet. 17
Obviously, after the annexation of Crimea, Russia refused to provide a discount on
gas to rent the Black Sea Fleet. This was, in fact, the second high-profile case of when
miscalculations in the country’s energy policy affected national security.
Stockholm arbitration and supplies from the EU
In April 2014, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk announced Naftogaz’s intention to
file a lawsuit against Gazprom in the Stockholm Arbitration Court. The Russian side
demanded payments for insufficient gas extraction, which under the terms of the 2009
contract was to amount to 52 billion m3
. In addition, the announced price of gas for
current supplies in the second quarter of 2014 under the contract was $485 and was
higher than the price for neighboring European countries. Since November 25, 2015,
Ukraine began to import gas exclusively from the EU. 18
LNG import
In late 2017, the Stockholm Arbitration Court ruled in favor of Naftogaz: Gazprom is
obliged to pay $2.56 billion, including the offset of $2.1 billion, which Naftogaz received
as gas supplied in 2014.
The fine has also been the subject of controversy between Naftogaz and Gazprom.
The main concern was that it would affect the future of the transit contract, especially
considering the construction of bypassing routes: Turkish Stream 2 and Nord Stream 2.
The launch of these pipelines could deprive Gazprom of the need for Ukrainian transit.
The situation was complicated by the unbundling process that began in 2017. Under
the Association Agreement with the EU, Ukraine pledged to implement the EU’s Third
Energy Package, which, among other things, required the separation of gas transmission
system operators from gas companies. 20
Hence, Ukraine started the largest energy
reform since its independence: separating the transit system from Naftogaz, i.e., creating
an independent operator. The unbundling had to become a proxy for competition, as all
traders would have equal access to the market, and was aimed to help improve Ukrainian
GTS and overall facilitate the transportation process.
On the eve of 2020, the parties – Naftogaz, the newly created Transmission System
Operator of Ukraine (TSO), and Gazprom – agreed and signed a five-year transit
contract. The parties renounced mutual claims, and Gazprom paid Naftogaz $2.91
billion by the decision of the Stockholm Arbitration Court (the result of the claim and
the accrued penalty). 21
On December 30, 2019, the parties signed three documents: the agreement between
Gazprom and Naftogaz on the organization of transportation, the transport agreement
between Naftogaz and TSO, and the inter-operator agreement between Gazprom and
TSO. The contract provides for at least 65 billion m3
of Russian gas transit in 2020 and
40 billion m3
annually during 2021-2024.
Table 1. Volumes of natural gas imports to Ukraine by directions in 2014-2020,
billion m3 19
For comparison, in 2017, transit amounted to 93.5 billion m3
, and in 2019 –
89.6 billion m3
. The rule “pump or pay” meant the irrefutable payment of the minimum
volume of transit even at lower physical volumes of pumping 22
.
On January 1, 2020, one day after the signing of the agreement, Naftogaz’s subsidiary
Ukrtransgaz transferred control of the transit system to the TSO, which became the
property of the Mahistralni Gazoprovody Ukrainy and, accordingly, the Ministry of
Finance of Ukraine. The acceptance-transfer act consisted of 47 thousand units, the
book value of which amounted to more than 32 billion hryvnias. Thus, on January 1,
2020, Ukraine concluded the unbundling 23
.
Unbundling not only separated suppliers from transit but also laid the foundation for a
gas market. Since August 2020, gas prices in Ukraine are determined by competition.
Importers, traders, and extractive companies supply gas to the market, the TSO, and
the Underground Storage Operator (UGS) transport gas. Gas supply companies and gas
distribution companies buy gas at the market and deliver it to end consumers. At the
same time, the National Commission for Regulation of Energy and Utilities (NCREU)
monitors compliance with the rules and the functioning of the market.
LNG import
At the end of 2020, the Verkhovna Rada also voted in support of the bill that allowed
TSO to gain access to the gas exchange, which would allow companies to buy gas quicker
and at a better price. Such an exchange increases the liquidity of the gas market, which
was another requirement of the EU’s Third Energy Package.
Graph 5. Gas market functioning scheme 24
The signing of a five-year transit contract postponed the problem of GTS’s urgent
restructuring. However, the reduction of transit volumes compared to the design
capacity urged its modernization and the search for alternative use options. In addition,
the GTS’s future after the expiration of the current transit contract is unclear. It is also
essential to study the existing opportunities for GTS, including LNG supply and further
expansion.
General characteristics of Ukraine’s GTS
Ukraine'sgastransmissionsystem
anddiversificationofnaturalgas
supplyroutes
Map 1. Ukraine’s GTS 25
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Features 26
:
total length of gas pipelines – 37,933,360km:
main gas pipelines – 22,202,788 km
main gas pipelines-branches – 13 339,922km
distribution gas pipelines – 2,390.65 km
number of UGS facilities – 12
projected active volume of all underground storage facilities – 30.95 billion m3
Table 2. Design parameters of UGS 27
Map
2.
Gas
transmission
infrastructure
of
Ukraine:
results
of
work
in
2010-2019,
billion
m
3
28
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Under such conditions, the main priority of the Ukrainian GTS should be transiting and
ensuring reliable gas supplies to the domestic market with a minimum level of investment
and costs. At the same time, it is necessary to carry out repair and re-equipment of
the worn-out equipment and preservation or decommission of not loaded segments
of GTS. Given the growing demands of contractors on the efficiency and quality of
transportation services, it is necessary to increase the overall operational efficiency
of the GTS. Ukraine and TSO must pay additional attention to setting favorable for
European consumer transport tariffs, which would be lower than the tariffs of bypass
pipelines.
Integration of the GTS of Ukraine in the network of
neighboring European countries
The bandwidth of the Ukrainian GTS interconnectors with Poland, Slovakia, Hungary,
and the reverse capability can potentially increase the reverse’s bandwidth. Today, the
total capacity of the exit points from the GTS to the EU is 456.9 million m3
: 29
to Poland – 14.5 million m3
to Hungary – 40.2 million m3
to Slovakia – 281.9 million m3
to Romania – 95.1 million m3
To improve Ukrainian energy security, ensure gas supply diversification, and integrate
domestic natural gas market into the Energy Community’s market, GAZ-System S.A. and
the TSO joined efforts in analyzing the effectiveness of the project on the gas pipeline-
interconnector Poland-Ukraine.
The planned gas interconnector includes constructing the DN700 Germanovichi-
Strachotcin gas pipeline (72 km) and the DN1000 gas pipeline from Germanovichi to
the Polish-Ukrainian border (1.5 km) on the Polish side, including a border measuring
station and a compressor station in Strachotsyn. The entire investment includes three
main parts: linear infrastructure, production infrastructure, and data management and
collection system (SCADA). The gas pipeline will connect the Germanovichi junction on
the Polish side with the TSO of Ukraine in the area of the Bilche-Volytsya underground
storage facility on the Ukrainian side and is designed to work in both directions.
The construction of the main gas pipeline-interconnector Drozdovychi-Bilche-Volytsia
with the following characteristics is defined as the main variant of expansion within
Ukrainian borders: length – about 100 km, conditional diameter – 1000 mm, working
pressure – 7.4 MPa. Capacity:
in the direction Poland-Ukraine: Q = 5-8 billion m3
/year
in the direction Ukraine-Poland: Q = 5-7 billion m3
/year.
The project is included in the ENTSOG Ten-Year Development Plan for 2015-2025 and
in the list of Projects of Common Interest of the Energy Community (PMI). 30
To make a final decision on the project, operators are preparing for a binding procedure,
“open season” (pre-sale of capacity), which will assess the demand of participants in
Ukraine and Poland’s natural gas markets and the economic feasibility of the project.
This procedure is entirely in line with European best practices for pre-allocation of
capacity.
LNG import
Possibilities of supply of regasified LNG from Poland to Ukraine are confirmed. Currently,
Ukraine can accept up to 6.6 billion m3
of gas per year in the interruptible capacity
mode. 31
Poland plans (in case of Ukraine’s request) the same capacity for 2021-
2022. TSO will consider gas supplies from other countries after the expansion of the
interconnector through Romania.
Poland
To deepen the integration of the GTS of Ukraine and neighboring European countries,
the TSO of Ukraine and the Polish operator GAZ SYSTEM agreed on the terms of
cooperation at the connection points of the GTS Germanovichi and Drozdovichi, which
are entirely based on EU legislation. Germanovichi connection point can carry out virtual
reverse operations, while allocations are made according to the operating balancing
account, which is not reset every month. 32
The construction of the Poland-Ukraine interconnector is another important project
for Ukraine. After the agreement between the Polish company PGNiG and American
companies on the purchase and possible supply of American liquefied natural gas to
Poland, the Poland-Ukraine interconnector can be used to further supply this gas to
Ukraine.
The existing gas pipeline Komarno-Drozdovichi was built in the 70s and today is not
reliable enough; therefore, the new interconnector could be viable. In the medium term
(after 2024), it is advisable to consider the construction of an interconnector with a
capacity of 8.5 billion m3 per year (in Ukraine / Poland). This project is also a matter of
national energy security.
The project might see a green light due to the US’s commitment, which is confirmed by
signing a tripartite Memorandum on gas cooperation between the US, Poland, and
Ukraine. The Memorandum should result in a regional structure between Ukraine and
Poland. This will help reduce dependence on gas supplies from Russia and facilitate the
management of critical gas deficiencies (for example, due to extremely low temperatures
and hence peak gas consumption in Europe). The structure can become a hub for gas
exports to neighboring countries.
Among other things, Ukraine and Poland discuss the possibility of increasing gas supplies
to Ukraine up to 6 billion m3
per year after the launch of the Baltic Pipe gas pipeline
(approximately the end of 2022) and the expansion of the Swinoujscie terminal, from
where, through the Germanovichi gas pipeline, the gas will be delved to Ukraine.
Hungary
The TSO of Ukraine and the Hungarian Operator FGSZ have agreed to cooperate at the
connection points Beregovo and Beregdarots. The cooperation will be based on the
standard business rules, which comply with cross-border cooperation and EU legislation
rules. 33
Romania
Romanian Operator TRANSgaz and TSO of Ukraine signed an agreement on
cooperation according to European rules. The agreement provides for the possibility
of free transportation of gas from Southern Europe via Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine to
Moldova with a capacity of 17.8 million m3
per day. Romania will remain a transit route in
all scenarios, but its role will diminish after the launch of the Turkish Stream. 34
Moldova
To fully unblock the Trans-Balkan Gas Corridor, the TSO of Ukraine and
Moldovatransgaz, together with Moldovagaz, signed an inter-operator technical
cooperation agreement. This document allows transporting gas between Ukraine
and Moldova in both directions through underground storage facilities Oleksiivka,
Hrebenyky, Ananyiv, Lymanske, Kaushany. In addition, the parties signed an agreement
on gas transportation by Ukraine and Moldova for consumers in the border areas.
Moldova has already made shipments to store gas at Ukrainian UGS’s facilities. 35
The signed Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in gas security, although
not legally binding, should strengthen energy security in the region. It must eliminate
and prevent an energy crisis and effectively mitigate possible interruptions in natural gas
supply, particularly to protected consumers on both sides of the border.
Both Ukraine and Moldova are highly interdependent when it comes to securing gas
supplies. The structure and configuration of the natural gas transmission network
determine Moldova’s dependence on natural gas flows through Ukraine. At the same
time, consumers in some Ukrainian regions depend on natural gas flows through Moldova.
Russia
On December 30, 2019, in Vienna, the TSO of Ukraine signed an inter-operator
agreement with Gazprom (Operator of the Russian GTS). The agreement guarantees the
extension of Russian gas transit through Ukraine for five years and can be prolonged for
another ten years. The minimum volume of transit for 2020 is 65 billion m3
per year and
secures the minimum of 40 billion m3
annually for the next four years.
Slovakia
On December 31, 2019, the TSO of Ukraine signed a technical cooperation agreement
with the Slovak operator EUSTREAM. The agreement concerned the connection points
Uzhhorod-Velke Kapushany and Budintse. The conclusion of this agreement meant
that the TSO of Ukraine signed international documents with all neighboring operators –
Poland, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, Slovakia, and Russia. 36
In addition, the potential introduction of a virtual connection point between Slovakia and
Ukraine will have a positive impact on the economies of both countries. The virtual point
will not only help increase gas transportation, which in turn will increase budget revenues,
but will also ensure uninterrupted transportation and decrease CO2
emissions by reducing
the use of fuel gas for compressor stations.
The issue of auction-based capacity allocation at the state border, which the EU’s Third
Energy Package requires, also remains relevant today. If Slovakia introduces transparent
and fair competition, it will positively affect the economies of both Ukraine and
Slovakia.37
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Assessment of the scale and consequences of the complete
cessation or significant reduction of gas transit to Ukraine
In case of ceasing the transit, the TSO of Ukraine 38
provides the following steps:
with the annual volume of gas consumption in Ukraine within 35 billion m3
per year
to ensure a reliable gas supply to Ukrainian consumers to compensate for seasonal
and daily fluctuations sufficient filling of Ukrainian UGS at the level of 47.5-55%
(14.7-17.0 billion m3
active gas excluding 4,662 million m3
of non-reversible active
gas, which technologically performs the functions of a buffer);
to ensure a reliable supply of natural gas to national consumers in the winter
(February-March) and secure that active gas reserves in UGS are formed in a way
that guarantees the daily withdrawal of UGS in this period at 133 million m3
per
day, while the active gas in UGS will remain at 13 billion m3
. Technical measures to
increase the daily productivity of gas storage facilities have also been developed
and implemented;
taking into account the need to meet the demand of Ukrainian consumers in
the withdrawal season, UGS of Ukraine will able to provide consumers of other
countries with free storage of 14-16 billion m3
.
The problematic regions that may be left without gas are those that rely on Russian
supplies (the city of Vovchansk with a population of 20,000 in the Kharkiv region and
two other settlements), the South of Odesa region, and some settlements in the east of
the country.
It would seem that problems may arise in countries that simultaneously depended on
the supply of Russian gas and its delivery through Ukraine, namely: Greece, Bulgaria,
Romania, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Moldova, whose government
cannot resolve the issue of Transnistrian gas consumption debt repayment. However,
the launch of the TurkStream will allow shipping gas directly to Turkey, as well as to
other the countries of Southern and Southeastern Europe (since the beginning of the
year, gas has been flowing to Greece and Northern Macedonia). TurkStream will be a
key route for natural gas to the region, bypassing the Trans-Balkan gas pipeline.
Thus, we can assume that Russia is changing its transit partner from Ukraine to Turkey.
If Nord Stream 2 is commissioned and both branches of TurkStream (15.75 billion m3
per year) are fully operational, Russia is unlikely to extend its transit contract with
Ukraine under current conditions. 39
Since January 1, 2020, gas transit through Ukraine in the Balkan direction via the Trans-
Balkan gas pipeline is carried out only to cover the needs of Romania and Moldova.
Bulgaria (which also started receiving part of LNG gas from Greece last year) and
Turkey do not receive gas through Ukraine anymore. Therefore, the gas pipeline will
work in reverse mode, which became possible after the re-equipment of the system.
The decrease in transit volumes and transit revenues may cause more than half of the
export gas pipelines to become idle/underloaded. To transport gas to all regions within
the country, it will be necessary to maintain the system’s functioning at a sufficient
level, which will cause a significant increase in gas prices.
Even though the transit issue might seem unstable, it is not yet critical:
Turkey is a critical partner (strategic partner, hub, new field). The country is
neither a member of the EU nor a party to the Energy Community but has
already reduced domestic gas consumption, specifically the consumption of
Russian gas. In addition, some sources claim that there is a high probability that
the contract between Gazprom Export and the Turkish company BOTAŞ will not
be extended at all after April 2021; 40
There is a significant decline in gas production in Europe (the Netherlands,
the UK). 41
Therefore, the demand for gas transit from Russia to its consumer
partners in Europe may increase. Given the capacity of bypass pipelines and the
lack of their ability to respond to gas consumption peaks in specific periods of
time, Ukraine’s GTS (and its UGS) may remain an essential corridor for transit;
The specifics of bypassing pipelines commissioning present a certain timeframe to
find a new route of gas supply;
Within the next ten years, the transit agreements of Russia with Romania
(2023), Bulgaria (2030), and Poland (which has already announced its intention
not to extend the contract with Russia since 2023) are going to expire. With
a far-sighted policy, this situation can be used to meet the needs of European
gas consumers by offering them to use extensive Ukrainian system of main gas
pipelines and the largest underground storage facilities in Eastern Europe;
The possibility of alternative use of the GTS of Ukraine to support its efficient
operation (pneumatic transport, gas storage in pipes, etc.);
Although the Trans-Balkan Pipeline has already been launched and transit
through Ukraine has, as expected, decreased significantly, representatives of
the TSO announced that they consider utilizing the old Trans-Balkan Pipeline
infrastructure and creating a new corridor for gas supplies from Bulgaria, Turkey,
and Greece to Ukraine in the amount of up to 15.8 million m3
per day. 42
02
03
04
05
06
01
LNG import
The idea of building LNG terminals in Ukraine was related to the intention to diversify
the supply of resources and reduce dependence on Russia. With each of the gas wars
described above, Ukraine’s desire for energy independence became more apparent, and
construction of the LNG terminal was getting more and more attractive.
The idea to build a liquefied gas regasification terminal was first voiced in 2006.
Naftogaz was considering an option of building a plant on the Black Sea coast that
could receive gas from Libya and Egypt and later liquefy it for supply to Ukraine’s
gas transmission system. Later, Ukraine also considered gas supplies from Azerbaijan,
specifically from the Shah Deniz 2 field (it was under development at the time). In 2009,
the Ministry of Fuel and Energy even set up a working group to develop the idea of an
LNG terminal. At that time, the cost of construction was estimated at $2.5 billion. 43
The idea got a second wind at the end of 2010 after another gas war with Russia raised
the price to $250 per thousand m3
. 44
In December, the government has officially
created the “National project “LNG-terminal” enterprise. At that time, Ukraine planned
to supply liquefied gas from North Africa and Azerbaijan to substitute Russian gas.
Two years later, after the price of Russian gas reached a record $430 per thousand m3
,
Ukrainian authorities stated that they had found an investor who was to lead the
construction consortium and attract new investors.
The project was thoroughly planned. The gas liquefaction plant was to be located in
the South of the Odesa region. Authorities planned to lease a vessel to Excelerate
Energy to transport Ukraine’s imported gas. A floating installation of FSRU with a total
capacity of over 5 billion m3
was supposed to store and regasify natural gas as early as
2015. The project also accounted for the onshore terminal for LNG reception, which
was supposed to start operating later. According to the drafted Energy Strategy of
Ukraine until 2030, in 2015, the country’s demand for gas imports was to range from
33.7 to 34.3 billion m3
. In 2020, thanks to the LNG project, Ukraine was to import 27.1-
29.2 billion m3
. 45
The terminal could cover 15 to 35% of Ukraine’s gas needs, costing Ukraine €60 million
(according to plan, the remaining €800 million for terminal and an additional €130
million for the gas pipeline between the plant and the network were supposed to be
covered by investors). 46
Implementing the LNG terminal project with a capacity of
10 billion m3
is still economically justified given the current volume of gas imports and
price before the collapse of the markets in 2019.
Development of the project and selection of the location required Ukraine to hold
conceptual design works, which would have allowed to determine the preparation of
the basic design of the LNG-terminal and the technical conditions of previous technical
solutions. The terminal production equipment list with division into the sea and coastal
parts were also determined.
HistoryofLNGterminals
constructioninUkraine
During the final project development, it will be specified, taking into account the
conditions of a selected location.
As of 2021, the status of the National Project “LNG Ukraine – the creation of
infrastructure for the supply of liquefied gas to Ukraine” at the state level remains
uncertain.
In 2015-2016, Naftogaz and its enterprises were not involved in the project
implementation. However, Naftogaz took the opportunity to submit proposals to the
relevant ministries to resume the project. To adjust the organizational structure of the
LNG project and its resuscitation, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (CMU), by order of
August 5, 2015 №826-p, decided to assign the state enterprise “National project “LNG-
terminal” to the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine. 47
Also, the Action Plan of the Ministry of Energy on implementing the Program of CMU
and the Sustainable Development Strategy “Ukraine 2020” in 2015 provided: to develop
and submit to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine a draft order of the CMU for approval
of the LNG terminal project. According to the Plan, during the preparation of this
concept, the results of negotiations with Turkey on the issue of the unimpeded passage
of the Bosphorus by tankers should be taken into account. 48
Some domestic private and foreign companies (USA, Turkey, and others) remain
interested in building an LNG terminal in Ukraine. Aware of the importance of the
LNG project to ensure the energy security of Ukraine, the Ministry of Energy and
Naftogaz, within its competence, in a great degree contributed to the implementation
of constructive proposals and measures that will facilitate the implementation of such
projects.
Thus, in 2014, Ukraine started cooperating with private Ukrainian investors, who
planned to implement an alternative project to construct a floating LNG terminal
(floating storage and regasification unit, FSRU) in the waters of the same Yuzhny port.
However, the project is currently suspended due to declining interest, primarily because
of the uncertainty around the Bosphorus Strait. At the same time, Ukraine must have
studied the interest of companies and the possibility of organizing the supply of LNG
within the Black Sea basin, which would allow to avoid the problem of the Bosphorus.
To this end, in July 2015, the Naftogaz signed a Memorandum of Understanding
with the American company Frontera, which expressed interest in investing in the
construction of an LNG terminal in Ukraine and organizing supplies to the LNG terminal
obtained from its exploration and production sites in eastern Georgia. 49
LNG import
Floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) as a concept was developed in 2005
under the pressing need to address the problem of storage and regasification of LNG.
The first considered FSRU was not a new unit but re-equipped from an existing carrier.
These first FSRU projects had shorter delivery times compared to terrestrial terminals.
For most operating FSRUs today, there were compelling reasons: some were
politically motivated, while others were incentivized by location, schedule, civil safety
requirements, or environmental constraints. These factors were decisive for the choice
of FSRU compared to terrestrial LNG terminals.
FSRUs are not substitutes for terrestrial solutions but rather complementary options.
In general, ground-based LNG terminals are more versatile, often performing LNG
transshipment, ship bunkering, and LNG tanker loading systems, which may be
necessary for some markets and infrastructure systems.
Over the past few years, several projects have used a different technology – floating
storage units (FSU). These units are only suitable for storage. The regasification system
is installed either on the pier, a separate floating regasification barge (FSRB), or on the
ground terminal.
If Ukraine builds its own gas storage and reception facilities on the Black Sea coast, the
state being landlocked has great potential for developing the LNG supply market. For
the last ten years, one of the main projects is the “Yuzhnyi” Terminal project, which
includes constructing storage facilities and the lease of a floating regasification platform
(FSRU). The analysis of the current and projected gas market shows that Ukraine has a
strong base for its consumption in the industrial and housing sectors. Using a floating
LNG regasification platform in Ukraine is currently justified, given the estimated cost of
such a project and the possibility of renting an LNG vessel.
LNG import
03
LIQUEFIEDNATURALGAS
MARKETattheturnof2020.
GLOBALANDREGIONAL
CONTEXT
The development of liquefied natural gas began with the construction of an experimental
plant for the production and storage of LNG in 1912 in Virginia (USA). 50
This was an
installation that allowed liquefying natural gas to parametric values, which are still used
today. As this installation was experimental and the beginning of the First World War
significantly slowed down the study of liquefaction technology, this plant was able
to start operating at full capacity only in 1917. Experiencing a global boom in fossil
resources, including natural gas, there was no need for logistical flexibility. The situation
changed with the outbreak of World War II, which led to problems with the delivery and
provision of energy resources to the allies under all embargoes and restrictions of their
own food bases.
The East Ohio Gas Company (EOG) pioneered global solutions, building a liquefaction
and regasification plant in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1941, just after a subsidiary of Hope
Natural Gas Company in West Virginia had successfully tested a pilot project. The plant
operated successfully for three years, but in 1944, according to a report from the US
Bureau of Mines, the tanks with LNG failed. As a result of the malfunction, significant
volumes of gas and steam leaked from the tanks, causing a series of explosions and
started a fire that engulfed nearby houses. Overall, the fire killed nearly 130 people and
caused at least $6.8 million in damage. 51
After this incident, the US stopped developing
LNG projects for six years to improve the conditions of storage, transportation, and,
above all, security.
In 1959, Methane Pioneer delivered LNG from Lake Charles, Louisiana, to Canvas
Island in England to develop commercial LNG delivery options, demonstrating for the
first time that LNG could be safely transported across the ocean. 52
After the first
seven successful LNG shipments, the British Gas Council decided to import LNG from
Venezuela. However, due to the discovery of deposits in Libya and Algeria (later, the first
world’s first commercial liquefaction terminal was built in Arzew, Algeria), it was decided
to import LNG from Algeria, which became the world’s first commercial LNG exporter
(1964). So, LNG supplies to the United Kingdom could not compete with deposits
discovered in the North Sea. 53
Later, Japan entered the liquefied natural gas market, first importing LNG from Alaska
in 1969.54
In the same year, trade relations between Algeria and France, Libya and
Italy, and Spain also began, so the first contractual trade relations were concluded. The
development of the LNG market in 1972 led to the expansion of the trading zone, which
the United States, with its four regasification units, joined later. In 1973, the Pacific
region began to play an important role when Korea and Taiwan joined as importing
countries. The first operations to import LNG from Brunei to Japan were underway. 55
Since 1991, the LNG market has been rapidly growing. This was especially true for
Australia, whose export capacity expanded significantly due to the discovery of the
Darwin gas shelf.
Generaloverviewoftheworld
LNGmarket
LNG import
Since the beginning of the 21st century, the LNG market has been growing rapidly,
so, during 2000-2011, the growth averaged 7.5% per year, reaching more than
300 billion m3
at the end of the period. 56
As of 2019, the global LNG market volume was about 483.4 billion m3
.57
The
development of LNG trade has forever changed the state of the natural gas market,
effectively merging regional markets into global ones and intensifying competition.
According to the results of 2019, the share of LNG in the total international trade in
natural gas for the first time was a record 11%, and it is expected that by 2035 this
share will increase to 18%, replacing domestic production and traditional gas.58
This
year’s developments marked the sixth consecutive year of continuous growth in this
segment. According to some estimates, by 2040, the demand for LNG may double.59
Naturally, such growth in the LNG market was accompanied by growing investment. In
2019 the total investments in this industry reached a record $50 billion. 61
Within the decade-long timeframe, LNG production and consumption has changed
significantly:
the number of LNG importing countries increased from 23 in 2009 to 42 in 2019;
the number of producing countries is now 20 62
;
In addition, even lower-carbon solutions are gradually emerging in the gas markets. 
Graph 6. Dynamics of LNG trade capacities and number of involved countries 60
Map 3. Regional retrospective and perspective of LNG exports 63
Map 4. Regional retrospective and perspective of LNG imports 64
LNG trends in 2019-2020 and supply/demand forecasts
LNG import
Graph 7. Key LNG exporters and importers, 2019 65
The global leaders in LNG exports in 2019 were Qatar, Australia, the United States,
and Russia. 66
It is the latter two countries that have significantly strengthened their
positions in the run-up to 2020. By 2022, Qatar, Australia, and the United States are
expected to be the largest LNG exporters with a total market share of over 50%. 67
The key regional segments of the global LNG market are Asia-Pacific, North America,
and Europe.
The Asia-Pacific region is the largest and the most dynamic one. Qatar, a global leader
in LNG exports, has a production capacity of 77 million tons per year. 68
Since the
mid-1990s, the country has focused on gas exports, building more terminals for its
liquefaction and storage tanks. Qatar has long been a major supplier of LNG to Europe.
However, the country’s share of the global LNG market is gradually declining due to the
emergence of other players and their growing capacity. Other key players in the region
are Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Algeria.
The American region is another significant segment of the global liquefied natural gas
market. The United States occupies a special place here. At the beginning of the year,
the Energy Information Agency expected that gas exports from the United States
would double in 2021. 69
However, the energy crisis and falling demand for energy are
likely to worsen this forecast.
Since 2018, the growth of LNG exports from the United States has been mainly due to
new gas liquefaction facilities. As a result, the United States ranked third in the world in
terms of LNG exports. 70
Although exports of LNG and natural gas somewhat weakened in 2020 as a response
to declining global production, it is already clear that economic recovery will take place
under the auspices of cleaner fuels. Thus, the demand for natural gas and LNG will
grow along with the demand for renewable energy sources.
Due to the forced delay in foreign funding caused by COVID-19, LNG supplies until
2025 will be determined by extraction from projects currently in operation or under
construction. The gradual commissioning of new capacity should balance supply and
demand, and therefore would mean more stable prices over the next 3 or 4 years.
International experts predict that under the baseline scenario, the demand for LNG
will increase to 475 million tons in 2025. The supply of projects in operation and
under construction will be about 465 million tons. So from the planned projects will
be enough to get only 10 million tons, equal to 5% of the capacity promised by foreign
investment in 2020. Under the minimum scenario, demand in 2025 can be covered by
the capacity that existed in August 2020. An additional 85 million tons will be needed
at the highest demand, i.e., 45% of the capacity to which investments were directed in
2020. 71
China, South Asia, and Southeast Asia are expected to be the primary sources of
demand growth.72
The formation of new markets and the use of LNG for transport will
significantly contribute to demand growth.
LNG import
The geopolitical component of their competition intensifies gas races between the
various countries of the Asia-Pacific region.
As US global influence diminishes and regionalism grows in international relations,
Southeast Asia is gradually becoming a new epicenter of geostrategic competition. On
the one hand, there is a competition among regional states that are still looking for their
place, and on the other hand, there is a competition between the global players: Russia,
China, India, USA, Great Britain, France, etc.
Scientific and technological progress and the transformation of the world economy,
which bring financial technologies and geo-energy to the fore, are exacerbating the
struggle for global logistics chains and maritime communications. The Indian Ocean is
home to critical maritime communications and logistics hubs through which liquefied
gas and oil enter the market. Thus, the Indian Ocean can be seen as one of the main
battlefields for the world’s dominance for decades to come.
South Korea and Japan find themselves in a situation where China is actively expanding
its influence in the region, and the United States is reluctant to support traditional
alliances. This forces Tokyo and Seoul to look for their places in the regional order,
maneuvering between Washington’s new policies and Beijing’s growing political
influence. The vacuum created by the declining presence of the United States in
Southeast Asia is forcing many countries to compete. In 2019-2020, relations between
South Korea and Japan deteriorated, one of the reasons being the control over energy
supply channels.
The crisis of global leadership has also affected the positions of Indonesia and Malaysia.
Both countries are uncertain of their future foreign policy. They are forced to balance
between the United States, which intends to rely on them, leaving the region to its
allies Japan and South Korea, and China, which continues its investment activities
through numerous multimillion-dollar projects under the global Belts and Roads Initiative.
Indonesia’s geopolitical rupture was evident during last year’s fateful general election,
when President Joko Widodo, after being elected, was forced to share power with his
main rival, Prabowo Subianto, appointing him Minister of Defence to maintain a balance
of power between pro-Chinese and pro-American forces. In Malaysia, a similar “house of
cards” faltered in early 2020, when Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad abruptly resigned
and failed to secure the transfer of power to his ally, Anwar Ibrahim. Therefore, the
future of the political configuration in Kuala Lumpur remains unclear.
Australia is also experiencing its own regional crisis. The United States is getting shut
within its internal problems, unwilling to devote many resources to supporting its
extensive network in Asia.
Politicalandeconomic
struggleintheLNGmarkets
So Australians feel that they need to take the lead in the region, at least at the level of
the “Five Eyes” countries (the USA, Canada, Australia, Great Britain, and New Zealand).
The country is also divided between the need to address domestic issues left after the
2018-2019 political crisis and engaging in competition between the United States and
China.
The western part of Asia, the Middle East, is characterized by its own confrontation,
which significantly impacts energy relations in the region.
The first is the conflict between the Gulf monarchies, which has been going on since
2017, when Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Bahrain, and Kuwait imposed a total blockade
on Qatar and severed ties with the emirate accusing it of financing terrorism. The Gulf
monarchies are actively preparing for a post-American order, when the United States,
which no longer has such an enormous need for Middle Eastern oil, will gradually reduce
its presence in the region. This forces local countries to rearm and intensify competition
between them for strategic resources and alliances. The situation is complicated by the
recent discovery in the UAE of vast natural gas deposits, which in total can make up to
80 trillion m3
. 73
Secondly, there is the confrontation over gas deposits on the Cypriot shelf in the
Eastern Mediterranean, which has involved Turkey, Israel, Cyprus, Egypt, Italy, France,
Greece, Lebanon, and Libya.
Together with the Black Sea Basin, the Eastern Mediterranean forms one of the
world’s most potent logistics hubs, a place where trade routes are enriched by dozens
of languages, religions, and ideologies intersect. To this day, much of the world’s trade
between West and East is through international maritime arteries in the Eastern
Mediterranean, and access to the Black Sea opens up additional markets by connecting
North and South.
Today, this region is part of the southern zone of the European Union’s influence and
therefore occupies an important place in its foreign policy. The Eastern Mediterranean
(or the Levantine Sea), with its energy resources, logistics, and geostrategic value, is the
object of geopolitical confrontation between several blocks of states, both regional and
global.
The prize for control over this region is enormous. Those who control the Levantine Sea
dominate major oil and gas routes from the Middle East to Europe, including the Suez
Canal, the Red Sea, the coast of Cyprus, and the straits of Bosphorus and Dardanelles.
The importance of this region for the world has increased sharply due to recent changes
in the international system and the gradual drift of world politics towards “realpolitik”:
a narrow egocentric interpretation of national interests, as well as the intensification of
the struggle for strategic resources, including the old resource bases such as gas, oil, and
coal. 
LNG import
European Union is the second world’s largest natural gas consumer, after the USA 74
.
At the same time, the EU is highly dependent on gas imports and is actively decreasing
domestic gas production.
EuropeanLNGmarketatthe
turnof2020
Graph 8. Dynamics of LNG share in EU natural gas imports and total gas
consumption 75
Graph 9. Dynamics of EU natural gas imports in terms of supply sources 76
For the most energy-dependent European countries, LNG infrastructure was mainly an
instrument to guarantee market competitiveness and a way to prevent the monopoly
of specific large suppliers, like Russia. Consequently, LNG infrastructure was also a tool
to mitigate price increases caused by those dominant suppliers (this is evidenced in
particular by the level of utilization rates of the EU, which was at the level of 25-30%).
In some cases, the low bandwidth capacity of interconnectors with gas transmitting
systems of neighboring countries, like Spain, made LNG the primary source of gas
supply. Hence, as of 2019, 36 LNG terminals were operating in the EU, and 27 more
were either planned or under construction.
Graph 10. Structural dynamics of EU natural gas imports 77
Graph 11. Dynamics of average monthly regasification terminal utilization rates
in the EU and in some significant LNG importing countries 78
LNG import
Graph 12. Operating and planned LNG terminals in EU as of 2019 79
By the end of 2018 and during 2019, the total volume of LNG increased. For instance, in
2019, EU imported 108 billion m3
of LNG, which was 75% more of what was imported
previous year. This was primarily due to the following factors. Firstly, in early 2019,
Asian market saw a decrease in gas demand, so the region became less appealing to
exporters.
Graph 13. Change in the structure and volume of LNG supply to the EU in
2018-2019 82
The LNG suppliers turned towards Europe, where the price conjuncture for gas remained
stable. Secondly, the important factor for the growth of LNG volumes was that the EU
expected the transit negotiations between Ukraine and Russia to fail, which would mean
a temporary interruption of gas transit through Ukraine. Therefore, European countries
utilized all the possible gas supply routes to fill their own gas storages and prepare for
the upcoming gas crisis in 2019-2020.
Between mid-2018 and November 2021, LNG exports from the US to the EU increased
by almost seven times; from the beginning of 2018 till November 2021, 33% of LNG
exports from the United States went to the EU only 81
. Therefore, besides the two
reasons for the LNG volume increase described above, it is crucial to highlight political
motives. With some EU forces promoting the completion of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline
(especially Germany), the increase in gas imports from the United States seems like an
attempt to make the US more loyal to the project and prevent further sanctions against
the pipeline.
However, in some cases, the growth of the LNG industry in the EU was due to the
fundamental intentions of abandoning Russia as a gas source. This was the case for
Poland and Lithuania 83
. Poland has, in fact, made a political decision to give up Russian
gas. In Lithuania, this was due to the diversification efforts, and since 2019, the country
received LNG supplies from Russia based solely on financial grounds.
Today, the leading importers of LNG in Europe are Spain, France, Great Britain, Italy, the
Netherlands, and Belgium.
LNG import
Graph 14. Dynamics of LNG import by EU countries 84
The traditional LNG suppliers to the EU are Qatar, Nigeria, and Algeria. American
and Russian LNG supplies also grew together with the increasing importance of
LNG in Europe since 2019. Russian LNG has a relative advantage in terms of a short
logistic route. According to the International Gas Union, because of the logistics and
development of LNG projects (Yamal, Arctic LNG, Baltika), Russia would continue to
strengthen its presence in Europe 85
.
European LNG market during COVID-19 pandemic and its
post-pandemic future
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a partial reduction in energy demand and prices and
has therefore jeopardized the LNG trade sector, which has grown steadily over the past
six years. As a result of the pandemic and quarantine restrictions globally, there has been
a decline in energy demand and prices.
The European market was not an exception. The decline in gas demand in the first
half of 2020 was about 8%, but the LNG trade sector itself did not suffer significant
losses during this period 86
. Regasification capacity utilization in Europe remained high,
and during some months of 2019 (in Lithuania and Poland), even broke records. This
could have been due to the winter preparations and stocks accumulation in gas storage
facilities, which in 2020 showed a record load for the past ten years. Such load hence
established a more attractive price for suppliers to the European market compared to
the Asian. This has become one of the factors for replacing pipeline gas with LNG. In
particular, LNG supplies from the United States replaced part of the pipeline supply from
Russia. However, Russian companies have also managed to increase LNG supplies to
Europe, almost entirely compensating for the decline in pipeline supplies.
Graph 15. Dynamics of natural gas supplies to Europe for six months in
2019-2020 87
Graph 16. Dynamics of LNG intake in European gas networks 88
However, at the end of the summer, there was an increase in gas prices in Asia, and then
supplies reorientated back towards Asia, so the supplies to Europe declined. In addition,
as of August 2020, European gas storage facilities were filled by 90% 89
, which also
helped reduce the demand for LNG supplies.
LNG import
Graph 17. Dynamics of LNG prices in September and October 2020,
USD/MMBtu 90
Graph 18. Historical dynamics and forecasts of profitability of LNG
trading operations 91
The recovery of natural gas prices will help restore the financial position of market
players and return to their expected profitability in 2021.
Figure 19. Forecasts of natural gas demand recovery after the COVID-19
pandemic 94
At the same time, the crisis has hit new investments in the LNG sector. Thus, the
restoration of investment attractiveness of the sector will lag far behind the recovery of
natural gas prices. 92
In addition, the impact of the pandemic on the LNG market will not
be the same. Producers and sellers will suffer the most, while the impact on importers
will be much smaller. Oversaturation of the market will delay the construction of new
capacities, but with the restoration of demand, consumers will immediately return to
importing the resource. At the same time, governments would likely have to intervene
to support and stimulate the construction of new LNG facilities, as the sector would be
able to recover only in 3-5 years fully.93
Billion
cubic
meters
Enduring pandemic
Single-wave
pandemic
Multi-wave pandemic
LNG import
LNG makes it easy to supply gas through virtual pipelines or in the form of regular
shipments via roads, trains, or canal barges; hence, the development of LNG
trade increases the number of supply options. Accordingly, LNG helps to increase
competition and reduce the possibility for key regional suppliers to abuse their
monopoly position.
Gas suppliers use virtual pipelines to expand their markets in areas that are either
uneconomical or too inaccessible to the pipeline. For example, in Argentina, Galileo
Technologies, rather than building expensive pipelines or use government subsidies,
uses Cryobox-Trailers to distribute LNG to customers in remote areas across the
country. Virtual pipelines operate in Australia, Canada, China, Europe, and the United
States and are studied in South Africa, Nigeria and Mozambique. Thanks to the
flexibility of LNG transportation, the Polish LNG PGNiG terminal in the Baltic Sea,
Swinoujscie LNG in 2016 provided consumers outside the national network with gas
by nearly 4,000 truck trips.95
Flexible in transportation, liquefied gas can become one of the tools to ensure
Ukraine’s energy security. The ability to transport gas in liquid form by tankers or
freight within the country opens up many new opportunities for Ukraine. With the
LNG project, Ukraine will be able to diversify its suppliers and become less dependent
on a single source of natural gas. Poland and Lithuania followed a similar logic when
they decided on building LNG terminals.96
They put the interests of their security
forth, understanding their geopolitical circumstances.
In the context of diversifying energy supply routes, Ukraine would also benefit from
joining the Three Seas Initiative (3SI), a European Union infrastructure project that
brings together 12 countries around the Baltic, Black, and Adriatic Seas.97
One of the
two main projects funded by the Three Seas Investment Fund is the connection of
the LNG pipeline with the sea terminals of Poland and Croatia. By joining the Initiative,
Ukraine would not only be able to lobby its interests in LNG but also gain access to
new waterways, such as the E-40, which connects the Baltic and Black Seas via river
arteries.
TherationaleofLNGdevelopment
inUkraine
Energy security
Global gas prices fluctuations as a key to the commercial
viability of the LNG project
With the development of the global spot market for natural gas, construction of the
new pipelines is becoming more of either a political or a geopolitical lever, as their
profitability decreases every year. Today, spot deliveries to terminals or transshipment
points are more competitive than contracted natural gas deliveries with fixed prices.
Therefore, in the new decade, the projects of terminals with subsequent regasification
of the resource with high liquidity will draw the most attention. Namely, these will be
terrestrial liquefied gas terminals with storage and regasification systems, as well as
FSRU.
Due to the mild winter and increasing supplies from the United States, 2020 began
with low gas prices. During the first weeks, Asian spot prices fluctuated at $5.15
per MMBtu 98
, while TTF contract prices fluctuated at $3.85 per MMBtu. Although
prices have been at record lows for the past decade, after China announced closing
its borders, gas prices have fallen even lower. So at the end of February, the price
fluctuated at the level of $2.70 per MMBtu. A few weeks later, when other countries
felt the effects of the pandemic, the price dropped even lower and in May reached its
historic low – $1.90 per MMBtu on JKM and $1.31 per MMBtu on TTF. 99
Prices continued to fluctuate low until August. By the end of the summer, the
quarantine restrictions eased, so the price gradually grew. In August 2020, the prices
of the TTF contract returned to the same level they were at the beginning of the
year. Even at the American Henry Hub, between June and October, prices more than
doubled. By the end of 2020, the natural gas price on TTF has risen to almost $7 per
MMBtu, and on JKM, it reached a record $20 per MMBtu. 100
This spike is associated
not only with recovery but also with abnormally cold winters in Asia and Europe. For
instance, the temperature in Beijing fell 4 degrees lower than usual, reaching -10
degrees Celsius, which is the lowest figure in 55 years.101
In addition, ice and strong
winds hampered LNG deliveries, further raising prices. On January 12, 2021, JKM
reached $32,494 per MMBtu.102
Although Europe is also experiencing colder winter
than usual, thanks to gas pipelines from Russia and Scandinavia, the price of the TTF
contract did not experience hikes like on JKM. However, cold weather still raised the
price to a three-year record – $7.8 per MMBtu.103
Graph 20. Dynamics of LNG price on JKM spot 104
LNG import
Global LNG production is projected to increase from 362 million tons in 2020 to 381
million tons in 2021 (+5%). 105
The most significant increases will occur in the United
States, Australia, Egypt, and other countries due to low prices reduced production
during 2020. Even if demand in Asia remains high, these additional supplies should be
sufficient to ensure market balance throughout the year. According to Rystad Energy,
this is confirmed by the current substantial lag in the forward price of JKM, which is
about $6 per MMBtu for next summer. Asian spot prices are expected to fall to $3.4
per MMBtu during summer and assuming the normal winter grow to $5.3 per MMBtu
by the 4th quarter of 2021. 106
Under such circumstances, Ukraine has an appealing
opportunity to benefit from the flexibility of spot LNG prices.
The International Energy Agency predicts that LNG will become the main driver of gas
trade at least until 2025. Total trade volumes will increase by 21% compared to 2019
(before the pandemic). In addition, Europe is expected to continue to be the second-
largest importing region, after Asia. 107
This, in turn, will mean even easier and cheaper
access of Ukraine to LNG, in addition to the ability to load the transmission system and
gas storage.
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many countries to impose a lockdown and
introduce quarantine restrictions nationwide. These restrictions have led to a decline in
production in countries and, consequently, a decrease in demand for fuel production.
IHS Markit in early 2020 found that as a result of the pandemic, oil demand would fall
by 3.8 million barrels per day for the first three months and even faster afterward. 108
At the same time, the space for oil storage will be reduced. As a result, the price of fuel
in March has already fallen by 20% compared to last year. 109
For countries like Saudi Arabia, where oil production is the primary source of income,
such a price decrease was catastrophic, and it was critical to reduce production
immediately. Although oil production in Venezuela, Libya, and Iran has already dropped
due to US sanctions and political instability, their relatively small production decrease
has been offset by increased production outside OPEC: the United States, Norway,
and Brazil. That is why on March 4, 2020, a meeting of OPEC, Russia, and other oil-
producing countries was convened to reduce production. 110
As the unofficial leader of OPEC, Saudi Arabia has insisted on reducing oil production,
even though it would reduce the already historically lowest share of OPEC in world
oil production – 35%. 111
Russia, which had previously been an ally of Saudi Arabia,
insisted that the issue needed further study and was reluctant to reduce production.
Russia was aware that it was lowering the price of its own product by abandoning
cooperation, but it prioritized a political motive of destroying American oil producers. In
addition, since joining the alliance with OPEC in 2017, Russia for three years had been
pushing Saudi Arabia to be the world’s largest oil exporter. So, Saudi Arabia would be
responsible for taking up the first steps for the inevitable reduction in oil production in
the face of decarbonization.
As for the first time in many years, American exports were seeing rapid growth; hence
Russia’s cooperation was vital for Saudi Arabia. On Friday, March 6, 2020, Russia finally
refused to cut oil production, provoking Saudi Arabia to start a price war. The next
day, Saudi Arabia cut oil export prices by 10%, causing Brent to fall by almost 25%
overnight. 112
Although this was not a devastating blow to Russia, it did much damage
to its allies, Venezuela and Iran. The United States, Nigeria, Angola, and Brazil were
also affected, as a decline in price had severe economic consequences. Even for Saudi
Arabia itself, this risky strategy has had negative consequences.
The only country that benefited from lower prices was China, which bought a record
amount of oil for storage.
One month later, on April 9, 2020, Russia and the OPEC countries agreed to reduce
oil production by 10 million barrels per day, which is approximately 23% of their
production. 113
Mexico was the only country that refused to cut production. The
situation stabilized after the United States offered to cut a third of what Mexico
needed.
Although the reduction agreement was signed, oil overproduction during the pandemic
and the price war between Russia and OPEC have already done a substantial amount of
damage for the industry, so on April 20, 2020, for the first time in history, the price of
oil fell below zero. However, eventually, the reduced production helped to stabilize the
price slowly. Almost a year after the reduction, as of February 2021, the oil price rose
to the level of 2017 and now fluctuates at $52.9 per barrel. 114
Natural gas prices usually have a positive correlation (interdependence) with the oil
price, as gas is often a companion in oil production, but between 2001 and 2020, the
correlation was at the level of 0.26, which indicates a weak dependence between
oil and gas prices. Given that fluctuations in oil prices will continue, gas will be an
effective substitute for it in the long run.
Graph 21. Dynamics of changes in the price of natural gas (Henry Hub)
and oil (WTI) 115
LNG import
Growing demand for LNG under the decarbonization agenda
One of the reasons for the increasing LNG trade was the growing demand for natural
gas due to the environmental commitments of the primary consumers. International
Energy Agency predicts that natural gas will be a key marginal fuel for the global
transition to clean energy. 116
Compared to other types of fuels, natural gas is one of the most eco-friendly choices for
the transition to clean energy production. To produce 1 MMBtu of energy, natural gas
emits only 53.1 kg of CO2
, half of what is emitted by coal. Since 2010 switching from
coal to gas helped to prevent nearly 500 million tons of CO2
emissions. Even accounting
for all the methane International Energy Agency estimates that 98% of all gas in use
today is environmentally safer than coal. Moreover, switching from coal to gas associates
with a 50% decrease in emissions for electricity production and more than 30% for
heat. 118
Countries that are actively developing sustainable energy resources often face the
firming problem. Solar and wind power plants do not have a stable production and
change during seasons and on a day/night basis. LNG as a substitute for coal would be
able to firm the production from the renewables. Considering the economic recovery in
2021 and 2022, it is clear that there is an approaching large-scale green stimulus policy,
which promises to impact demand and trade in natural gas and LNG significantly.
The leading countries worldwide have already made critical decisions that promise
to change the investment portfolios in the energy sector. For instance, the Biden
administration made the USA rejoin the Paris accord and expects to transit to renewable
power generation by 2035. In Europe, under the Green Deal umbrella, countries pledged
to decarbonize their economies by 2050. To do so, the EU plans a massive addition
of renewables, an increase in energy efficiency, and by 2030 a development of green
hydrogen technology. 119
Japan and South Korea are to phase out coal by 2030 and
reach carbon neutrality by 2050. China plans to do the same by 2060. 120
India also
agreed to reduce its carbon footprint by increasing non-fossil fuel production by 40% by
2030. 121
Graph 22. CO2
emissions from different fuels 117
Graph 23. Comparison of carbon pollution using liquefied and pipeline natural
gas, as well as coal 122
The US will have the greatest medium-term impact on demand for natural gas from
decarbonization, as EU plans already reflect ambitious climate policies and reductions
in harmful production, and mass coal use in Asia requires significant growth in gas and
renewable energy.
At the same time, the introduction of LNG supplies is not a panacea for harmful
emissions. Natural gas liquefaction procedures and gas transportation are rather energy-
intensive processes, accompanied by emissions of pollutants, including greenhouse
gases.
As can be seen from the graph, LNG is not better than conventional natural gas in terms
of emissions. However, given many advantages in terms of flexibility and storage life,
LNG can and should be considered a marginal electricity and heat production source
that is more environmentally friendly than coal.
In addition, as the fight against global warming intensifies, more countries are working on
tracking and minimizing the carbon footprint in LNG trade. Recently, the first long-term
ten-year contract for the supply of LNG was signed, which provides for the monitoring
of pollution in supply between Singapore and Qatar. 123
At present, it is only a matter of
monitoring pollution, and not, for example, paying for measures to prevent it. However,
pollution in the process of LNG transportation may receive even more attention in the
future.
LNG import
At the same time, the practice of supplying LNG with carbon footprint compensation
is beginning. For the first time, the French company Total delivered to China “carbon-
free” LNG. 124
The amount of carbon pollution caused by this supply was offset by the
purchase of CO2
emission certificates from a forest restoration project in Brazil, which is
an accomplice of China.
Demand for natural gas in Europe is likely to decline after 2030 due to the announced
decarbonization policy implementation, notably the Green Deal of 2019 and the
Hydrogen Strategy approved in 2020.
Nevertheless, greening trends can become an incentive for the development of LNG
infrastructure. This will be the case if convenient and affordable technologies are
developed to transport liquefied hydrogen, which is expected to be a key element
in achieving Europe’s carbon neutrality target by 2050, as well as for other major
developed countries that have stated the same intentions – Japan, South Korea, and
China.
Nowadays, Ukraine has access to LNG via the infrastructure of the neighboring
countries, such as Lithuania or Poland. In fact, Ukraine has already imported some of
LNG via the Polish terminal.
In developing its own LNG terminal, Ukraine (terrestrial or floating platform) faced the
problem of obtaining permits for tankers to path through the Bosphorus strait and the
relevant approvals from Turkey. Therefore, the successful implementation of such a
project is possible only through an alliance directly with Turkey or important strategic
partners of this country, which are also important players in the natural gas market –
Qatar and Azerbaijan.
Keymarketplayers
thatdetermine
Ukraine'saccess
toLNGmarkets
USA
Imports from the United States through Poland are one of the primary, realistic scenarios
that require the cooperation of three parties. On August 31, 2019, Washington, Warsaw,
and Kyiv signed an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in questions of
natural gas supply. The terms of the agreement were supposed to promote reform
of the Ukrainian gas market, increase resource imports from Poland, and increase US
exports. Already on September 9, 2019, Ukrtatnafta purchased more than 6 million
tons of liquefied gas from the American company Enterprise Products Partners. It
was envisaged that the final agreements would include a long-term contract for the
supply of LNG from the United States to Ukraine, gas storage in Ukraine’s underground
storage facilities, as well as construction and exploitation of the necessary infrastructure
between Poland and Ukraine.
Under these agreements, the United States planned to supply the Ukrainian hub
through Polish terminals with up to 6-8 billion m3
of LNG annually to further transport
gas to European countries. On May 27, 2020, the Government of Ukraine approved
a memorandum of cooperation with the American company Louisiana Natural Gas
Exports on the supply of 5.5 billion m3
annually. However, in September 2020, the
American company abandoned the cooperation with Ukraine. Therefore, the project was
suspended until a new supplier is selected.
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Poland
The Polish LNG terminal started operating in July 2016. The design capacity is
5 billion m3
of gas and is expected to expand the capacity to 7.5. 125
The main purpose
of the terminal was to reduce the dependence on supplies from Russia. Before launching
the terminal, Poland signed a 20-year gas supply contract with Qatar. Besides, in 2018,
Poland signed a 20-year supply contract with the United States. In 2022, the contract
for the supply of gas from Russia expires, and Poland has no intentions to prolong the
agreement, thus refusing Russian supplies. Poland’s PGNiG has invested in several
Norwegian offshore gas fields, and the Polish government sees them as a strategic
opportunity to further reduce its strong dependence on Russian gas. 126
The share of gas imports from Russia decreased from 67% in 2018 to 60% in 2019.
However, at the same time, the share of LNG imports increased from 20% in 2018
to 23% next year. In 2019, PGNiG imported 3.43 billion m3
of liquefied natural gas
to Poland, which is a quarter more than a year earlier. 127
LNG imports from the
United States, Qatar, and Norway increased by approximately 0.7 billion m3
(after
regasification) in 2018. Imports from Russia in 2019 amounted to 8.95 billion m3
compared to 9.04 billion m3
a year earlier. 128
Such dynamics mark a clear shift towards
diversification of natural gas supplies to Polish consumers. In 2016, Russian gas
accounted for about 89% of total imports, but supplies from Russia have been steadily
declining every year while LNG imports have grown. The total volume of PGNiG gas
imports in 2019 reached 14.85 billion m3
, which is 1.32 billion m3
more than in 2018. 129
In 2019, Ukraine signed a memorandum on tripartite cooperation in the energy sector.
According to this document, Ukraine will have access to American LNG, which will
diversify a significant share of natural gas supplies. By 2021, Poland is expected to be
able to supply 6 billion m3
of gas to Ukraine. 130
This will happen after constructing a
liquefied gas terminal in Swinoujscie, the modernization of interconnections between
the two countries, and the subsequent construction of the Baltic Pipeline, which will
connect Poland with Norway. Provided an uninterrupted supply of LNG, Ukraine will
be able to develop its gas hub through UGS facilities. Accordingly, the state will achieve
energy independence and become the leading guaranteed natural gas supplier, or the
so-called buffer, which has a significant natural gas reserve.
As early as November 19, 2019, a vessel carrying American liquefied natural gas to
Ukraine arrived at the liquefied gas reception and regasification terminal in the Polish
port of Swinoujscie. According to media reports, the tanker brought 75 thousand tons of
liquefied gas, which was 100 million m3
after regasification. 131
Ukraine has embarked on the path that Poland is already confidently following,
abandoning Russian gas and dynamically increasing LNG imports. Between 2016 and
2018, the share of LNG in the structure increased from 8.5% to 20%, respectively. Since
the launch of the terminal in Swinoujscie, PGNIG has received 70 batches of LNG with
a total volume of 7.5 billion m3
after regasification. 132
In 2018, PGNIG accepted only
one gas supply from the United States; by the end of August 2019, this number had
increased to six supplies.
In the future, to expand cooperation in diversification in the context of ceased natural
gas transit through the territory of Ukraine, and to expand the capacity of the Ukrainian
gas transmission system the interconnector “Poland-Ukraine” will be constructed. If the
Baltic Pipe was completed, it could provide additional volumes of natural gas imports
without excessive price increases.
Poland is already building several interconnectors to expand the natural gas market, and
by 2025 it plans to build another terminal based on the floating FSRU platform.
In the context of climate change and declining demand for natural gas, Ukraine has
the opportunity to expand cooperation with Poland in questions of LNG development
agreements and reconstruction of gas pipelines in Ukraine to reduce losses to achieve
flexibility of the system as a whole.
Lithuania
Unlike Poland, Lithuania did not produce natural gas and was utterly dependent on
Russian supply. In 2014, the country started operating a leased FSRU floating plant in
the port of Klaipeda, with a capacity of 4 billion m3
per year and signed a 5-year supply
contract with Norway. 133
In 2016, the terminal reached economically justified levels of
capacity utilization.
In 2018, the volume of transshipment through the terminal doubled. In 2019, the
efficient operation of the Klaipeda LNG terminal lowered the price of natural gas for all
Lithuanian consumers and created benefits that outweighed the costs of maintaining the
terminal. According to the first half of 2019, consumers in Lithuania paid 30% less than
the EU average price. 134
Since the operation of the LNG terminal, the price of Russian
gas supplies to the country decreased by 50%. 135
Earlier, in 2014, Lithuania paid a 36%
higher price for Russian gas than the price on the border with Germany. 136
Lithuania mainly imported Norwegian LNG for domestic consumption, using one-fifth
to one-third of the terminal’s annual capacity (2.7 million tons of LNG), but in late 2017,
it began diversifying imports with the first US cargo. 137
In 2018, the Klaipeda terminal
proved its international importance: Lithuania transported most of its gas through Latvia
via a pipeline.
In 2020, the European Commission, the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, and the
government set a goal to continue operating the LNG terminal after 2024. 138
This
decision is based on global analysts’ forecasts of growing demand for natural gas in
Europe due to increased energy diversification and the development of clean energy
and fuel in the context of global climate change. It is clear that in some industries
(for example, maritime, freight and road transport), there are very few environmental
alternatives to natural gas, in particular LNG. In fact, natural gas also plays a vital role in
the European Green Deal, which aims to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. 139
In 2019, the Polish oil and gas company PGNiG began working on the Klaipeda LNG
distribution station, which will promote the development of a small market for LNG
supplies in the Baltic States and Poland.
As of the beginning of 2021, the Lithuanian LNG import terminal in Klaipeda plans to
more than double LNG volumes and turn the Baltic port into a regional supply center. By
the end of 2022, Klaipedos Nafta AB will decide whether to purchase a terminal for the
import of FSRU from the Norwegian LNG Hoegh. 140
LNG import
Turkey
Turkey is one of the key countries, the rise of which was the most striking example of the
world system’s reformatting. Under the new world order and the global leadership crisis,
Turkey, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has begun to look for ways to adapt to
the changing international environment to gain a strong position in the new world arena.
To adapt to these changes, a state must find its geoeconomic niche to fill in and develop
its influence at the regional and global levels within it. This, in turn, requires significant
changes to the existing political system, the creation of a new institutional and
ideological base to mobilize supporters and consolidate power, and the development of
infrastructure to connect the country’s regions with the new technological base.
Thus, Ankara’s long and difficult path to this dream began, eventually bringing Turkey
first to the rank of a regional leader and then to the global level of political games
through searching for the niche in the global economy. One of such niches was the
gas transportation infrastructure. The development was inevitable, as the idea was
connected not only with the political desires of the Turkish elites but also with entirely
objective and natural tendencies.
Today, Turkey plays a central role in the gas projects of the Eastern Mediterranean and
the Black Sea region. Many of the actions taken by the Turkish authorities to promote
the development of gas fields and infrastructure through their territory are dictated by
domestic political necessity, the ideology of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and his
party. The development of a gas hub is also a promising and ambitious direction in the
context of Turkey’s regional policy, pursued by Erdogan’s government. The hub will also
allow the country to gain energy leverage over the region and possibly even establish its
own terms for natural gas transportation.
Building on the gas capacity and creating a hub is entirely in line with Erdogan’s neo-
Ottoman revisionist regional policy, which has been pursued for at least the past three
years. The politics aims to restore Turkey’s former power and influence over its “near
abroad” – the countries that were once part of the Ottoman Empire.
During 2016-2020, Turkey conducted three military interventions in northern Syria and
managed to create its own puppet enclaves within the occupied territories to pressure
the central government in Damascus. Meanwhile, in neighboring Iraq, Turkey has
established close contacts with local Kurds to ensure uninterrupted oil supplies from
the Kirkuk area. In 2017, official Ankara strengthened its alliance with the gas emirate of
Qatar, which allowed Turkish troops to deploy military bases on the emirate’s territory.
These actions have allowed Turkey to become one of the participants in the Ankara-
Tehran-Moscow geopolitical triangle in the Levant region. In addition, the Turkish
authorities are actively involved in the processes related to the militarization of the Red
Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean, where massive, currently undiscovered deposits
of gas and oil may be located. For President Erdogan, creating a gas hub in Turkey is a
mandatory part of the plan. It is a necessity that will restore the “greatness and dignity”
of the country and restore its respect for itself and others – something that Turkey,
according to presidential supporters, has lost after the World War I.
Accordingly, Islamist nationalism with a neo-Ottoman face, which became the basis of
Erdogan’s party ideology, has become a driver of the Turkish government’s ambitious
mega-projects to build gas infrastructure in the region, connecting Iran, Pakistan,
Azerbaijan, and Central Asia through Europe. The future of the gas supply map in the
Black Sea basin and the Eastern Mediterranean depends on how long these ideas persist
in Ankara and whether they will be shared by other political forces that may come after
Erdogan.
With control over the Bosphorus, which connects the Black and Mediterranean Seas,
Turkey is now the leader and the only player with a significant impact on the region’s
natural gas supply market. The country has several terminals and transshipments for
receiving natural gas tankers, the main ones being EgeGaz Aliağa, Botaş Dörtyol, and
Marmara Ereğlisi. Due to the increase in supplies and significant governmental interest,
Turkey is actively developing gas infrastructure, which in the future will become a full-
fledged hub of natural gas.
In particular, cooperation with Turkey by promoting its intentions to gain a foothold in
regional gas markets can contribute to greater commitment to Ukraine and ensure the
passage of liquefied natural gas vessels through the Bosphorus. At the same time, this
may require the assistance of critical geopolitical players or partners of Turkey listed
above. The deployment of the LNG platform in the Black Sea may later be part of the
increase in gas trade with Ukraine. This option will be particularly interesting under the
possible construction of a regasification plant in Georgia, which is still under discussion,
or in other countries.
In the short term, the option for cooperation may be to give Turkish companies access to
use Ukrainian UGS facilities.
The problem of shortage of underground gas storage facilities for Turkey is a critical
one, and the solution requires significant investments. For example, the project of UGS
capacity increase from 4 to 9.7 billion m3
would cost nearly $2.735 billion (co-financed
by the World Bank and other development banks). 141
At the same time, more than
30 billion m3
of Ukraine’s gas storage facilities could be useful for Turkey’s plans to
consolidate in the regional gas market. The success of such cooperation will ensure the
use of domestic gas transportation infrastructure and provide an opportunity to gain
time for the implementation of medium- and long-term strategies.
Qatar
Qatar is an important political ally of Turkey. The small gas emirate has always been at
the center of regional confrontation between various players in the Persian Gulf. Huge
gas reserves and a dominant position in the market allowed it to pursue a relatively
independent foreign policy. Many countries are not fond of this; they would have
preferred to control Qatar and its resources, as well as an incredibly powerful media
weapon, the international television channel Al-Jazeera.
The culmination of the conflict between the Gulf Arab monarchies was the diplomatic
confrontation of 2017, when Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the UAE severed
ties with Qatar and imposed a total land, sea, and air blockade against it.
Qatar has managed not only to successfully withstand the blockade and pressure
but also to overcome the negative economic consequences, including maintaining its
position in the natural gas market. Firstly, the countries did not risk blocking Qatari gas
supplies to the market.
LNG import
Secondly, Iran and Turkey have provided substantial support to Qatar, allowing Qatari
aircraft to use their airspace to bypass Saudi Arabia and the Emirates. Thirdly, Turkey
deployed its military base in Qatar and began to play as a deterrent to prevent other
states from organizing a coup in Doha.
The situation in 2017 gave birth to a new strategic geopolitical alliance between Qatar
and Turkey, which, although existed before, got significantly stronger. Thanks to it,
both countries maintained their positions in the region and gained opportunities to
compete with neighbors. With Qatar's gas capacity and Turkey's transport and logistics
capabilities, the alliance has become one of the world's dominant gas markets. For
Ukraine, this means that all issues related to the prospects of importing Qatari liquefied
gas directly depend on Turkey's readiness and desire to open the Bosphorus strait.
Conversely, any issues related to obtaining Turkish permit to import liquefied natural
gas through the Bosphorus were often included in the package with the agreement to
import Qatari gas.
Today, Qatar still holds a leading position in the gas market. However, this situation will
likely change in the long run, given the recent discovery of new gas deposits on the
shelves of Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, the Red Sea, and the United Arab Emirates.
This means that the struggle for the gas market will intensify in the medium term, as
will competition between the Qatari-Turkish alliance and other countries, including the
already established Israeli-Egyptian-Cypriot energy union.
In the LNG market today, Qatar is among the undisputed leaders. On February 8, 2021,
Qatar signed an agreement to establish the North Field East Project, the world's largest
LNG project, which is projected to increase Qatar's LNG production from 77 to 110
million tons per year. The project will start operating in the 4th quarter of 2025. It will
consist of 4 LNG trains with a capacity of 8 million tons per year each, gas purification
plants, gas conversion into liquids, and helium processing infrastructure. In addition,
production will be accompanied by carbon capture systems so that the project will have
a minimum carbon footprint. From 2027, Qatar expects to increase production to 126
million tons per year due to the commissioning of the second phase of the project. 142
Ukraine's search for an alliance with Qatar could change Turkey's position on allowing
LNG tankers to pass through the Bosphorus. One of the options for such cooperation
could be a contract to import Qatari gas. However, a certain obstacle is that the
Turkish-Qatari alliance has a clear regional orientation against the Saudi-Emirati-Israeli
bloc, which is supported by the United States and some EU countries.
Azerbaijan
Turkey's relations with Azerbaijan, another promising and powerful exporter of natural
gas, are developing no less successfully. Unlike Qatar, the relations between Turks and
Azerbaijanis are not based on religion or a common vision of the role of Islam in politics
but a common historical and ethnic heritage. Former President of Azerbaijan Heydar
Aliyev even once called Turkey and Azerbaijan "one nation with two states" and himself a
"faithful soldier of Turkey."
Historically, gas has played an important role in the country's energy supply, often the
most widely used source of energy supply. However, the export of the resource during
some periods was complicated because of infrastructural and geopolitical reasons.
Being trapped by two major gas suppliers, Iran and Russia, Azerbaijan's chances to join
regional markets were vague. Among all neighboring countries, Turkey was the one
interested the most, as it needed to diversify supplies and strengthen its position as a
future transit country.
In addition, the rapid development of bilateral relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan has
contributed to the promotion of joint energy projects. For Turkey, Azerbaijan has become
one of the key elements of their plan to establish a regional gas transportation hub and
create a link between Ankara and Tehran.
In Azerbaijan, Turkish support was seen as a great opportunity to diversify Russia’s political
influence, link countries from Europe to South Asia, and promote its standing in regional
affairs through increased energy power.
Russia is also extremely interested in Turkish-Azerbaijani projects and does not want
to lose control over Caucasian affairs. Moscow does not benefit from Azerbaijan
strengthening at the regional level, granting Baku some degree of independence from the
Russian position in the conflict with Armenia. For the Kremlin, such a scenario – a more
powerful, independent, and influential Azerbaijan in close alliance with Turkey – would
mean a revival of Ankara's influence in the Caucasus and the loss of Russian control over
the political process in the Caucasus.
Therefore, Russia has pushed for the settlement of the international legal status of the
Caspian Sea, having made important concessions on security issues, in particular, a ban on
entering the Caspian Sea for third-party warships.
Azerbaijan has great potential for close cooperation with Ukraine on oil, natural gas, and
oil products. One of the important areas of achieving security of supply and storage
of energy resources is the construction of gas filling stations and modern oil depots in
Ukraine. Ukrainian involvement in the Southern Gas Corridor project is equally important.
It would provide an opportunity to obtain Azerbaijani natural gas in implementing the
2nd and 3rd phases of the project, based on agreements to purchase natural gas and its
transmission through Komotini Stara Zagora or Trans-Balkan pipeline. 143
LNG import
Croatia
On January 1, 2021, a new floating terminal near the island of Krk in Croatia was put into
operation with a total capacity of 2.6 billion m3
per year. The total investment for the
construction of the terminal was € 233.6 million, of which 100 million came from the
state budget of Croatia, 101.4 million – from the Connecting Europe Facility Fund, and
another 32.2 million – from the shareholders of the operator of the terminal. 144
The basis
of the floating terminal is the regasifying vessel LNG Croatia, converted from the former
gas carrier Golar Viking. Being built in 2005, the ship was retrofitted in 2020 at shipyards
in China and Croatia. The first batch of LNG was brought to the new terminal by the
tanker Tristar Ruby from the American plant in Cove Point.145
The new project is strategically important for the security of domestic gas supply, which
is one of the main goals of the Croatian government. Consuming only 2.9 billion m3
of gas
per year, Croatia received almost all of this volume from Gazprom (2.821 billion m3
). 146
Now that, together with domestic production, the total supply exceeds the needs of the
Croatian market, Croatia will be able to use the surplus for gas exports to Hungary or
Ukraine. Thus, the management of TSO Ukraine has already announced that together with
the Hungarian GTS operator, they are working to create facilities for transporting gas from
the Croatian terminal to Ukraine.147
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04
ECONOMICEVALUATION
OFLNGPROJECT
COMPONENTS
Assessment of the economic feasibility of creating an infrastructure for LNG reception
in Ukraine provides a forecast of relevant costs and a comparison of the price of gas
delivery with options for delivery by pipeline. The basic option for such a comparison
is to use a floating regasification platform as the cheapest and intermediate option for
creating an infrastructure for LNG reception.
Costsestimationforthecreation
anduseofFSRU
FSRU vessel production and lease market
In recent years, there has been a reduction in the number of regasification vessels in
production. However, the biggest change in the industry is that new vessels are now
built by energy companies, not leasing companies. 148
In addition, more and more
terminals and countries, such as Lithuania, are considering the purchase of chartered
vessels. This transition from leasing to ownership creates an excess supply of vessels in
the leasing company.
The FSRU can be either newly built or converted from an existing LNG tanker. Currently,
the cost of the FSRU vessel of 6 million tons per year (with storage of 173,000 m3
) is
about $240-280 million. The price for the new ships has been recently declining due
to the high degree of competition between the three main Korean shipyards – DSME,
Hyundai, and Samsung. 149
Table 3. Characteristics of individual FSRU projects that have been
introduced in recent years 150
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Infrastructure cost to service the FSRU
The coastal infrastructure includes a berth for mooring the vessel, transferring LNG from
the tanker, and the pipeline systems required to connect the gas transmission system.
This infrastructure is usually built by a port or energy company and costs between $50
million and $100 million, but the price can be much higher. For example, in Lithuania,
the price was almost twice as high due to the complexity of laying the gas pipeline.
Offshore pipelines cost about $2-3 million per km. 151
Owner costs
Typically, they include the costs of the project owner and support team to oversee all
aspects of the project, both technically and commercially, from the start of the project
to the transfer to the operations department. This category also includes the costs of
obtaining permits and concluding contracts.
Operating costs
FSRU's operating expenses include the following components:
staff;
head office support;
maintenance;
insurance;
port dues;
tugs to supply the tanker with maneuvering;
FSRU shelf/shore service vessels;
dredging works;
financing costs.
Sufficient ship and port personnel must be provided to support the installation. The
FSRU crew mainly consists of 20-28 people and an additional four ground workers.
However, taking into account sick leave and the total turnover, the number of seafarers
must be at least three times higher to ensure the operation of the terminal. 152
It is
worth noting that the costs also include crew training, which can be quite costly.
FSRU project implementation schedules
Implementation schedules include three main stages:
Preliminary discussions and feasibility studies include initial discussions and
negotiations between the various stakeholders. Usually, this stage ends with the
preparation of a feasibility study. The same stage includes preliminary conceptual
design work to ensure technical feasibility.
Permission and pre-design to obtain project approval includeі developing the
concept, preparing the contracts, obtaining the necessary permits, determining
the project budget and work schedules, and negotiating with the necessary
permitting authorities.
Construction and launch. This phase covers the acquisition of the FSRU and the
construction of infrastructures, such as berth and connecting pipelines. These
two processes are independent and can be performed in parallel.
Schedules can range from 5 months to 2-3 years. The schedule for receiving the FSRU
will be highly dependent on the availability of the vessel.
Some FSRU terminals are scheduled to close, which means that some of the vessels
should be released. If you need to build a new ship, the construction time will be from
25 to 36 months (depending on the load of the shipyard). The conversion of the tanker
to FSRU can be done in a shorter period of 18 months but can be reduced to 12 months
if the equipment is ordered earlier.154
 
According to the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies 153
, operating costs are typically
estimated at 2.5% of capital investment per year. Assuming an investment of $350
million ($275 million for FSRU + $75 million for infrastructure), these operating costs
will be $8.75 million per year, i.e., $24 thousand a day. The actual cost level will depend
on the location, configuration, and capacity of the vessel. This cost does not include
the consumption of LNG for heat production and electricity for regasification and
processing.
01
02
03
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OptionsandroutesofLNGsupply
toUkraine
At the moment, Ukraine may be interested in liquefied gas supplies through the
terminals of such countries.
Poland: (terminal in Swinoujście, after this the terminal in Gdańsk) through
interconnections between the countries and additionally, with the development of
infrastructure, heavy transport.
Delivery route:
In the form of natural gas from the terminal (regasification at terminals):
Terminals - GTS of Poland - GMS Drozdovichi - GTS of Ukraine (direct or virtual
reverse) - Storage/end-user.
In the form of LNG from the terminal (filling tanks at terminals):
Terminals - heavy transport in Poland and Ukraine - gas stations -
LNG transport;
Terminals - heavy transport in Poland and Ukraine - regasification plants - gas
stations - transport on natural gas;
Terminals - heavy transport in Poland and Ukraine - regasification plants - GTS
entry points - Storage/end-user.
Lithuania: (terminal in Klaipeda), transmission via the GIPL gas pipeline, through Belarus,
and additionally, with the development of infrastructure, heavy transport.
Delivery route:
In the form of natural gas from the terminal (regasification at terminals):
Terminal - GTS of Lithuania - GIPL - GTS of Poland - GMS Drozdovichi - GTS of
Ukraine (direct or virtual reverse) - Storage/end-user;
Terminal - GTS of Lithuania - GTS of Belarus - GTS of Ukraine (direct or virtual
reverse) - Storage/end-user (but GTS of Belarus does not work according to
European rules - option is given for perspective).
01
01
02
а
а
В
В
С
In the form of LNG from the terminal (filling tanks at terminals):
Terminal - heavy transport in Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine - gas stations - transport
on LNG;
Terminal - heavy transport in Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine - gas stations - transport
on LNG;
Terminal - heavy transport in Lithuania, Poland/Belarus, Ukraine - regasification
plants - gas stations - transport on natural gas;
Terminal - heavy transport in Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine - regasification plants -
entry points to the GTS - Storage/end-user;
Terminal - heavy transport in Lithuania, Poland - regasification units - GTS entry
points - Storage/end-consumer.
Turkey (in Izmir and on the island of Marmara) via the Trans-Balkan gas pipeline.
Delivery route:
In the form of natural gas from the terminal (regasification at terminals):
Terminals - GTS of Turkey - Trans-Balkan gas pipeline (GTS of Turkey - GTS of
Bulgaria - GTS of Romania) - GMS of Ochakiv - GTS of Ukraine (direct or virtual
reverse) - Storage/end-consumer
To a potential LNG terminal in Ukraine – a stationary or floating regasification
platform. This route involves the passage of tankers through the Bosphorus.
Notes:
GIPL is an interconnector between Poland and Lithuania, with the capacity of
2.41 billion m3
per year.
The capacity of the terminal in Сwinoujście is 5 billion m3
per year (7.5 billion m3
per
year in 2023 after expansion), the terminal is currently loaded by only 59%, Qatargas
has a contract with this terminal for 2.9 billion m3
per years.
The capacity of the terminal in Klaipeda is 3.96 billion m3
per year.
The capacity of the terminal in Gdansk (at the stage of coordination) is 3.5-
4 billion m3
per year, will be built by 2023.
The capacity of the terminal in Izmir is 6 billion m3
per year.
The capacity of the terminal in Marmara is 7.9 billion m3
per year.
02
02
01
а
B
C
D
E
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The capacity of the Trans-Balkan gas pipeline at the interstate point "Isakcha1-
Orlovka1" on the route Ukraine-Romania is 17.8 million m3
per day (6.3 billion m3
per
year), in the opposite direction – 15.8 million m3
per day (5.7 billion m3
per year), as
of January 2020.
LNG is liquefied natural gas (pure methane, not to be confused with LPG –
petroleum gas), stored and delivered at a temperature of -159.2 °С. For industrial
and domestic use requires regasification and additional infrastructure.
Some of the potential routes
Map 5. From Port Arthur (USA) to the future Ukrainian LNG Terminal
Map 6. From Doha (Qatar) to the future Ukrainian LNG Terminal
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Map 7. From Port Arthur (USA) to Swinoujscie Terminal (Poland)
Map 8. From Doha (Qatar) to Swinoujscie Terminal (Poland)
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Map 9. From Port Arthur (USA) to Klaipeda Terminal (Lithuania)
Map 10. From Doha (Qatar) to Klaipeda Terminal (Lithuania) 
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Some of LNG terminals construction cases
Klaipeda. Lithuania
Construction history:
In 2012, Lithuania finally decided to build an LNG terminal. Before that, Russia was
the country's only gas supplier and worked under long-term contracts that threatened
the country's energy security. In 2014, the terminal was put into operation, which
significantly improved the quality of the local gas market and reduced the price of gas in
the country. Today, the terminal is wholly owned by the state-owned company Klaipėdos
Nafta.
Structure:
The terminal is located in the port of Klaipeda and consists of a leased FSRU, a 450 m
long pier, and an 18 km long gas pipeline (Amber Grid) connecting the terminal with the
gas metering station.
Graph 24. Lithuanian LNG terminal scheme 155
The FSRU Independence was built by Korean shipyards Hyundai Heavy Industries, which
cost $123 million when the terminal was built. In total, the vessel is 294 m long and 46
m wide. The total volume of the vessel is 170 thousand m3
. Klaipėdos Nafta owns the
vessel. The company leased the FSRU for ten years at Norwegian Höegh LNG. 156
Construction cost 157
:
In total, the infrastructure of the project cost Lithuania €131 million, excluding the lease
of the vessel:
€64.87 million – planning and obtaining the necessary permits;
€40.7 million – connection of the terminal to the gas metering station;
€25.6 million – construction of the pier.
In addition to the above costs, Klaipėdos Nafta leases FSRU for $189 thousand a day.
Also, the development of the infrastructure of the terminal cost Lithuania almost €50
million. Operating costs for the maintenance of the terminal remain a trade secret and
are not disclosed.
The terminal project was supported mainly by international financial institutions. The
total loan amount before the construction of the terminal was €116 million. The main
funding sources were the European Investment Bank, which provided a loan of €87
million, and Nordic Investment Bank, which recently provided a loan of €160 million to
buy the ship FSRU after the end of the lease in 2024. 158
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The FSRU vessel, named LNG Croatia, was converted from Golar's former Golar Viking
gas carrier. In total, the ship costs almost €160 million. 161
The length and width of the
vessel are 280 and 43 m, respectively. 162
The vessel's total volume is 140 thousand m3
and it promises to provide a regasification capacity of 2 million tons per year. 163
Construction cost:
The total cost of the project was €233.6 million. Of these, €159.6 million is the value of
the FSRU vessel. Groundworks, including a gas pipeline and a pier, cost €60 million. In
addition, the appropriation of land cost the project €14 million.
The project was funded from three sources. First, the EU has allocated €101.4 million in
grants under the Common Interests Project. Secondly, the Croatian government has also
allocated a separate grant of €100 million. The rest, €32.2 million, was financed by the
private company Plinacro.164
Krk. Croatia
Construction history:
The idea of the Krk LNG project emerged as a part of the EU Projects of Common
Interest initiative. Gas wars between Ukraine and Russia played a special role in shaping
the idea of the project. Thus, in 2014, after the transit of gas through Ukraine paused,
the EU first announced the construction of an LNG terminal in Croatia, and a year later,
this project became a priority for the EU.
On January 1, 2021, the terminal was put into operation. Its official owners are the
Croatian state-owned company HEB (85%) and the private company Plinacro (15%). 159
Structure:
The LNG project consists of an FSRU, a pier, a gas pipeline (Hrvatska Gas) that extends
the existing Hungary-Croatia interconnector, and a water connection system.
Figure 25. Krk LNG terminal (Croatia) 160
Aliaga Etki LNG. Turkey
Construction history:
For several years now, the Turkish energy market has shown rapid growth, and natural
gas is one of its main components. Demand for gas in the country is expected to double
between 2012 and 2030. The country is still heavily dependent on Russian imports,
but the construction of LNG terminals allows it to keep gas prices low. By 2019, four
terminals were already operating in Turkey, and the construction of one new terminal
and the expansion of two old ones took place. The Aliaga Etki LNG terminal was
commissioned in 2016 and became the first floating terminal in Turkey. The terminal
is operated by the private company Etki Liman, and the FSRU is owned by Kolin
Construction.
Structure:
The Aliaga Etki LNG terminal consists of an FSRU with a total volume of 145,000 m3
, a
415 m long steel-covered concrete pier, and a gas pipeline connecting the terminal with
the Turkish GTS.
In 2019, the old Neptune was replaced by the new FSRU Turquoise. The ship costs $230
million. The length of the vessel is 294 m and the width is 46 m. The total volume of the
FSRU is 166 thousand m3
and its capacity is 5.7 million tons per year. 166
Construction cost:
The project began in 2016 based on the ship Neptune, which cost $290 million. A
$230 million Turquoise later replaced it. Other details on the costs of the project are a
corporate secret.
Graph 26. Aliaga Etki LNG terminal (Turkey) 165
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05
SUMMARY
The overview of Ukrainian gas sector
Natural gas accounts for 26.3% of the total primary energy supply and 27.3% of
Ukraine's total final energy consumption. Annually Ukraine extracts about 20 billion m3
of natural gas; however, there is much more contained in the country's subsoil. Ukraine's
balance reserves of natural gas are estimated at 882.6 billion m3
, which could provide
Ukraine with gas for at least 42 years. 167
Thus, the annual production of natural gas
in Ukraine is only 2.4% of total reserves, while developed countries annually extract
approximately 6% of their reserves. 168
Last year marked a significant change for the national gas production sector. In 2020,
Ukraine concluded seven production sharing agreements based on tenders held in 2019.
Besides, in 2021 Naftogaz received special permits to operate on the Dolphin gas field
(9.5 thousand km2
), which has total reserves of 286 million tons of fuel, and to expand
production from the largest gas field of Ukraine, Yuzivska (7.9 thousand km2
), to 10-20
billion m3
per year. 169
Despite the significant role of gas in Ukraine's energy sector, the state's gas production
is still insufficient and cannot satisfy the increasing demand of a growing economy.
Over the past three decades, domestic production has been about 20 billion m3
per
year, while the state's consumption has been more than 30 billion m3
of gas per year.
Consequently, Ukraine remains dependent on natural gas imports. 170
Over the last five years, Ukraine's gas sector has undergone significant reforms,
as Ukraine committed to implementing the EU's Third Energy Package under the
Association Agreement. The package requires the state to focus on separating producers
from suppliers and create a competitive environment on the gas market with the
independent supervisor. Thus, between 2016 and 2020, Ukraine launched a series
of reforms: in 2019, it finalized the "unbundling" process and so separated the transit
system from Naftogaz; in 2020, it launched the gas market and appointed the National
Commission for State Regulation of Energy and Utilities (NKREKP) as an independent
supervisor. Also, in the fall of 2020, deputies allowed the Transmission System Operator
to join the gas exchange, which helped make the market even more liquid.
The gas transportation system of Ukraine and diversification of gas supply sources
Ukraine's gas transportation system is one of the largest and most developed globally:
almost 38,000 km long, it includes twelve underground gas storage facilities that can
store about 30 billion m3
of gas. 171
Possessing these enormous capacities, Ukraine
is actively looking for ways to integrate more deeply into Europe's gas transportation
system.
One of the most promising countries for cooperation is Poland. In particular, Ukraine is
interested in building a Poland-Ukraine interconnector, which could help to diversify its
gas supply. Following an agreement between the Polish company PGNiG and American
companies on the purchase and possible supply of American LNG to Poland, the
interconnector could deliver this gas further to Ukraine. Hungary, Romania, Moldova,
Slovakia, and Croatia are also essential partners of the Ukrainian GTS.
In the short run, the abrupt cessation of Russian gas transit does not yield critical
damage for Ukraine. However, it is crucial to recognize that Ukraine, as a country with
one of the largest and the most sophisticated gas transportation systems, would suffer
enormously in a longer-run perspective.
LNG import
The Ukrainian GTS focuses on large volumes of supplies, and their cessation will cost the
state hundreds of thousands of dollars. As an exporter to Europe, Russia will not be hurt,
as it would replace the Ukrainian route by Turkish Stream and Nord Stream 2. In fact,
as of January 1, 2020, gas transit through Ukraine in the Balkan direction (through the
Trans-Balkan gas pipeline) is carried out only to cover the needs of Romania and Moldova,
meaning that Bulgaria and Turkey no longer receive Russian gas through Ukraine. Thus,
the scenario of the Russian transit cessation is a very realistic one.
Due to the potentially unstable situation with the transit of Russian gas, Ukraine must
look for new ways to supply gas to fill its GTS. Many route options are being considered,
from Poland, Lithuania, or other EU countries. However, one of the most effective ways
to diversify is to invest in LNG infrastructure and build new land or sea supply routes.
Global LNG market overview
While Ukraine is hesitating to construct an LNG terminal, liquefied natural gas has
become the most dynamic energy resource in the world. Since 2000, the LNG market
has grown exponentially. In 2000-2011, the average annual growth was 7.5%, exceeding
300 billion m3
. 172
As of 2019, the global LNG market totaled 483.4 billion m3
. 173
The
development of LNG trade has forever changed the State of the natural gas market,
effectively merging regional natural gas markets into a global one and intensifying
competition. According to the 2019 data, the share of LNG in total natural gas
international trade hit its record – 11%. It is expected that by 2035 this share will
increase to 18%, replacing domestic production and pipeline gas imports. 174
2019
marked the sixth year in a row of continuous growth of this segment, and it is further
set to grow. According to some estimates, by 2040, the demand for LNG may double. 175
Naturally, such growth in the LNG market was accompanied by growing investment in the
industry, which lately picked at $50 billion. 176
European LNG market in 2020
The European Union is the second-largest importer of natural gas after the United States.
In order to diversify gas supply routes, some countries have begun to import LNG. In
2019, there were 36 LNG terminals in Europe, and 27 were either under construction or
planned. 177
Thus, in the same year, the volume of LNG imports reached 109 billion m3
,
which is 75% more than the previous year. 178
The key importers of LNG in Europe are
Spain, France, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, and Belgium. The COVID-19 pandemic
caused a partial reduction in LNG demand, as for all energy resources, but since the
end of the summer, both in Europe and Asia, gas prices have begun to rise quickly. To
completely recover, the market would take 3 to 5 years. 179
Ukrainian interest in LNG
LNG should be a particularly interesting project for Ukraine for three reasons. First, LNG
is one of the tools to achieve energy independence. Since LNG can supply gas through
virtual pipelines or regular supplies by road, train, or canal barge, the development of
LNG trade increases the number of supply options for the state. Accordingly, LNG could
help to increase competition and reduce the ability of the leading regional suppliers to
abuse their monopoly positions.
Second, LNG has clear financial advantages. Due to high market liquidity, it allows to use
spot gas deliveries, and therefore receive gas at a better price. Global LNG production is
projected to increase from 362 million tons in 2020 to 381 million tons in 2021 (+5%). 180
Even though the price difference between February 2020 and 2021 was almost $30
per MMBtu, the market must balance. Thus, Ukraine can benefit immensely from such
flexibility of spot prices for LNG. Liquefied gas is expected to be the primary driver of
gas trade at least until 2025. Total trade will increase by 21% compared to 2019. 181
Besides, considering 2020’s oil marketer instability, it is evident that if fluctuations of oil
prices continue, gas could become an adequate substitute in the long run.
Third, natural gas is a marginal fuel in decarbonization. Countries switching to clean
electricity, developing solar and wind energy need an additional source to balance
seasonal changes, and LNG could be an exceptional firming capacity. Also, natural gas
emits at least twice as much carbon dioxide as coal. Even with methane emissions, gas
is still more environmentally friendly. Thus, natural gas, particularly LNG, is an ideal
marginal fuel that will ensure the transition to a low-carbon future.
Key countries determining Ukraine’s access to LNG markets
The following countries will be critical for the development of Ukrainian LNG:
Poland. Polish LNG terminal started its operation in 2016, and since then, the
country continues to increase its LNG imports to replace Russian gas. In 2019,
PGNiG imported 3.43 billion m3
of liquefied natural gas to Poland, which is a
quarter more than a year earlier. 182
In 2019, Ukraine signed a memorandum
on tripartite (Ukraine-Poland-USA) cooperation in the energy sector. According
to the document, Ukraine will have access to American LNG, which will allow
diversifying a significant share of natural gas supplies. Starting from 2021,
Poland was expected to supply 6 billion m3
of gas to Ukraine. 183
In the future,
with the cessation of natural gas transit through Ukraine, the construction of
an interconnector "Poland-Ukraine," would be a feasible option to expand the
capacity of the Ukrainian gas transmission system. If Baltic Pipe was be completed,
the interconnector could provide additional natural gas imports without any
significant price increase.
The USA. On August 31, 2019, Washington, Warsaw, and Kyiv signed an
intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in natural gas supplies, the terms of
which were to promote the reform of the Ukrainian gas market, strengthen raw
material imports to Poland and increase US exports. As part of these agreements,
the United States planned to supply the Ukrainian hub with 6-8 billion m3
of LNG
annually through Polish terminals for further transportation to European countries.
Lithuania. Unlike Poland, Lithuania does not have its natural gas production
and was thus utterly dependent on the resource's Russian supplies. In 2014,
Lithuania started operating a leased floating natural gas plant in the port of
Klaipeda. The FSRU had a total capacity of 4 billion m3
per year. 184
In 2019, the
efficient operation of the Klaipeda LNG terminal lowered the price of natural gas
for all Lithuanian consumers and created benefits that outweighed the costs of
maintaining the terminal. In the first half of 2019, consumers in Lithuania paid
30% less than the EU average. 185
After the LNG terminal operation started, the
price of Russian gas supplies to countries decreased by 50%. 186
Earlier, in 2011-
2014, Lithuania was paying a 36% higher price for Russian gas than, for example,
the price on the border with Germany. 187
As of the beginning of 2021, the
Lithuanian terminal in Klaipeda plans to double its volumes of LNG imports and
turn the Baltic port into a regional supply center.
01
02
03
LNG import
Turkey. With control over the Bosphorus strait, which connects the Black and
Mediterranean Seas, Turkey is now a leader and the only player with a significant
impact on the region's natural gas supply market. The country has several
terminals and transshipments for receiving natural gas tankers, the main ones
being EgeGaz Aliağa, Botaş Dörtyol, and Marmara Ereğlisi. Due to increased
supplies and significant governmental interest, Turkey is actively developing a gas
infrastructure to become a full-fledged natural gas hub. Ukraine can establish
cooperation with Turkey by promoting its intentions to gain a foothold in regional
gas markets and hence push Turkey to greater commitments and secure the
passage of liquefied natural gas vessels through the Bosphorus. Simultaneously,
this may require the assistance of critical geopolitical players or Turkey partners,
which are listed above. The location of the LNG platform in the Black Sea
may later be an element of increasing gas trade in Ukraine. This option will be
particularly interesting in the possible construction of a regasification plant in
Georgia, which is still under discussion, or in other countries.
Qatar. The small emirate not only has enormous oil deposits, but it is also a crucial
political ally of Turkey. Thus, with Qatar's gas capacity and Turkey's transport
and logistics capabilities, this alliance has become one of the dominant ones in
the global gas market. Ukraine's search for the alliance with Qatar could change
Turkey's position on allowing LNG tankers to pass through the Bosphorus. One
of the ways for such cooperation could be a promise to import Qatari gas. Given
that Qatar in 2021 signed an agreement to establish the largest LNG extraction
project globally, such cooperation is very promising for Ukraine.
Azerbaijan. Ukraine has great potential for cooperation with Azerbaijan, which
is a powerful exporter of natural gas. One way to achieve security of supply and
storage of energy resources is the construction of gas filling stations and modern
oil depots in Ukraine. Equally important is the involvement of Ukraine in the
Southern Gas Corridor project. The implementation of the 2nd
and 3rd
Phases of
the project will provide Ukraine with the opportunity to obtain Azerbaijani natural
gas, based on agreements on the purchase of natural gas and its transmission
through Komotini-Stara Zagora or Trans-Balkan pipeline.
Croatia. On January 1, 2021, a new floating terminal near the island of Krk in
Croatia was put into operation with a total capacity of 2.6 billion m3
per year.
The new project is strategically important for the security of domestic gas supply,
which is one of the main goals of the Croatian government. Consuming only
2.9 billion m3
of gas per year, Croatia received almost all of this volume from
Gazprom (2.821 billion m3
). 188
Now that together with domestic production, the
total supply exceeds the needs of the Croatian market, the State will be able to
use the surplus to export gas to Hungary or Ukraine.
04
05
06
07
An economic evaluation of LNG project components
The primary option for developing LNG in Ukraine is using a floating regasification
platform as the cheapest and marginal option for creating an infrastructure for LNG
reception. The FSRU can be either rebuilt or converted from an existing LNG tanker.
At present, the cost of the FSRU vessel of 6 million tons per year (with storage
of 173,000 m3
) is about $240-280 million. Besides, the cost of infrastructure for
maintenance should be taken into account. This infrastructure is usually built by a port
or energy company with local contractors and costs typically $50-100 million. However,
the price could be much higher if new berths or breakwaters are needed. Offshore
pipelines cost about $2-3 million per km. The costs of the owner's team, support
service, and all subsequent operating costs should also be considered: port maintenance,
insurance, staff salaries, etc. Construction of a new project can take from 2-3 years and
mainly depends on the availability of the FSRU vessel.189
LNG import
1.	 Ukrstat
2.	 Ukrstat
3.	 Association of Gas Producers of Ukraine
4.	 Data: Naftogaz, Minenergo, Ukrstat: https://bit.ly/3v8coBQ
5.	 Naftogaz, “Annual report 2019”
6.	 Ukrstat
7.	 Ministry of Energy, “The main indicators of the development of the fuel and energy complex”: http://
mpe.kmu.gov.ua/minugol/doccatalog/document?id=245416376
8.	 Ukrgazvydobuvannya, “Achieving Ukraine's energy independence”: https://bit.ly/3ru4aC1
9.	 Naftogaz, “In 2019, gas production in Ukraine decreased by 1.4%”: https://bit.ly/3uUBHY8
10.	 State Service of Geology and Subsoil of Ukraine, “Seven agreements on distribution of hydrocarbon
products signed”: https://bit.ly/3bgsVvv
11.	 State Service of Geology and Subsoil of Ukraine, Order № 627
12.	 Data: Naftogaz, “Volumes of gas use”: https://bit.ly/3bgtBkx
13.	 International document dated August 20, 1992, “Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and
the Government of the Russian Federation on natural gas supplies and gas transit through the territory
of Ukraine”: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/643_022/conv#Text
14.	 Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine of June 12, 1996, “On Approval of the Procedure for
Repayment of Debt Obligations of Enterprises, Institutions and Organizations for Consumed Natural
Gas Supplied from the Russian Federation in 1994”: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/641-96-
п#Text
15.	 Naftogaz, “Naftogaz of Ukraine has signed an agreement for the purchase of natural gas in
Turkmenistan for 2005”: https://bit.ly/2ML56CG
16.	 Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, “Ukraine: Development Prospects. Consensus Forecast ”, Issue 17,
2008, 8
17.	 International document dated 21.04.2010, “Agreement between Ukraine and the Russian Federation
on the stay of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine”: https://zakon.
rada.gov.ua/laws/show/643_359#Text
18.	 Data: Naftogaz, Stockholm Arbitration: https://bit.ly/30dPz1i
Links
19.	 Naftogaz and TSO Ukraine
20.	 European Commission, “Third energy package”: https://bit.ly/3enM14Q
21.	 Naftogaz, “Naftogaz received $ 2.9 billion from Gazprom. - balance by arbitration decision“: https://bit.
ly/3rvbopj
22.	 Naftogaz, “Naftogaz, TSO of Ukraine and Gazprom signed a package of agreements to ensure the
transit of Russian gas for the next five years”: https://naftogaz.com/www/3/nakweb.nsf/0/3C11125FB9
AFEA3CC22584E00077E0cu?
23.	 Naftogaz, “Unbundling of the gas transmission system is fully completed”: https://naftogaz.com/
www/3/nakweb.nsf/0/ADEE0EAA27058E5AC22584E2005BE91B?OpenDocument
24.	 Chart: Naftogaz: https://gas.ua/uk/home/news/yak-pratsyuie-rinok-gazu-infografika
25.	 Map: TSO Ukraine: https:// bit.ly/3t8jmoJ
26.	 Ukratransgaz, “Report for 2017 on the results of monitoring the security of natural gas supply”: https://
bit.ly/30relLz
27.	 Data: Ukratransgaz
28.	 Map: Naftogaz, «Annual report 2019»: https://www.naftogaz.com/files/Zvity/Naftogaz_2019_UA.pdf
29.	 TSO Ukraine: https://bit.ly/3t8jmoJ
30.	 Ibid.
31.	 Interruptible capacity: The transmission system operator may interrupt the capacity of the gas
transmission network in accordance with the conditions stipulated in the transport contract.
32.	 TSO Ukraine, «The Ukrainian and Polish TSOs establish single virtual interconnection point “GCP
GAZ-SYSTEM/UA TSO”»: https://tsoua.com/news/operatory-gts-ukrayiny-ta-polshhi-stvoryly-yedynu-
virtualnu-tochku-vtz-ukrayina-polshha/
33.	 TSO Ukraine, «New gas transmission system operator of Ukraine signed an interconnection agreement
with Hungarian TSO»: https://tsoua.com/en/news/new-gas-transmission-system-operator-of-ukraine-
signed-an-interconnection-agreement-with-hungarian-tso/
34.	 TSO Ukraine, «Ukrainian and Romanian GTS operators signed the interconnection agreement and
unlocked the Trans-Balkan gas corridor»: https://tsoua.com/en/news/ukrainian-and-romanian-gts-
operators-signed-the-interconnection-agreement-and-unlocked-the-trans-balkan-gas-corridor/
35.	 TSO Ukraine, «Ukrainian and Moldovan GTS Operators signed an inter-operator agreement»: https://
tsoua.com/news/operatory-gts-ukrayiny-ta-moldovy-pidpysaly-mizhoperatorsku-ugodu/
36.	 TSO Ukraine, «Gas transmission system operator of Ukraine signed the interconnection agreements
with Gazprom and EUSTREAM»: https://tsoua.com/en/news/gas-transmission-system-operator-of-
ukraine-signed-the-interconnection-agreements-with-gazprom-and-eustream/
37.	 TSO Ukraine, «Virtual connection point with Slovakia - a tool for dynamic development of the gas
market in the region - Olga Belkova»: https://tsoua.com/news/virtualna-tochka-zyednannya-zi-
slovachchynoyu-instrument-dynamichnogo-rozvytku-rynku-gazu-v-regioni-olga-byelkova/
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38.	 TSO Ukraine: https://bit.ly/3t8jmoJ
39.	 TurkStream: https://turkstream.info/project/
40.	 The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, «The Renewal of Turkey’s Long Term Contracts: Natural gas
market transition or ‘business as usual’?»: https://www.oxfordenergy.org/publications/the-renewal-
of-turkeys-long-term-contracts-natural-gas-market-transition-or-business-as-usual/ ; Montel, «Turkey
ditches Russian gas for LNG»: https://www.montelnews.com/en/story/turkey-ditches-russian-gas-for-
lng/1136022
41.	 IEA «Natural Gas Information: Overview»: https://www.iea.org/reports/natural-gas-information-
overview
42.	 Economichna Pravda, «TSO Ukraine explained how much TurkStream would cost Ukraine»: https://bit.
ly/3cnrHhy
43.	 Interfax-Ukraine, «Naftogaz estimates the price for LNG-terminal construction with 10 bcm capacity
would cost $ 2.5 billion»: https://interfax.com.ua/news/economic/52572.html
44.	 Andrii Vodiyanyi (LB.ua), «LNG-terminal: history of a project»: https://bit.ly/3qzGyuo
45.	 Ibid.
46.	 Ibid.
47.	 Order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine; List dated 05.08.2015, «On the assignment of integral
property complexes of state enterprises and institutions to the sphere of management of the Ministry
of Economic Development and Trade»: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/826-2015-р#Text
48.	 Order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine; Plan dated 04.03.2015, "On approval of the action plan
for the implementation of the Program of Activities of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the
Sustainable Development Strategy" Ukraine 2020 "in 2015": https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/213-
2015-р#Text
49.	 Naftogaz, "Naftogaz signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the American company Frontera
Resources Corporation": https://www.naftogaz.com/www/3/nakweb.nsf/0/892452842511B6D9C225
7E820028B4FE
50.	 Midshipmen Robert P. Curt and Timothy D. Delaney, «Marine Transportation of Liquefied Natural Gas»:
https://bit.ly/3rjBE5L
51.	 Martin Anderson Elliott, «Report on the Investigation of the Fire at the Liquefaction Storage, and
Regasification Plant of the East Ohio Gas Co., Cleveland Ohio, October 20, 1944»: https://cplorg.
contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p128201coll0/id/3562/
52.	 Midshipmen Robert P. Curt and Timothy D. Delaney, op.cit
53.	 Michelle Michot Foss, «INTRODUCTION TO LNG»: https://bit.ly/3aBqN1j; Department of Energy and
Climate Change, «DIGEST OF UNITED KINGDOM ENERGY STATISTICS»: https://bit.ly/3ptjo8o
54.	 Michelle Michot Foss, op.cit
55.	 Adriatic LNG, «LNG History»: https://www.adriaticlng.it/en/the-terminal/why-lng/lng-history
56.	 Ibid.
57.	 IEA, «Gas 2020»: https://www.iea.org/reports/gas-2020/2021-2025-rebound-and-beyond
58.	 McKinsey, «Global gas & LNG outlook to 2035»: https://mck.co/3bg5ItC
59.	 Shell, «SHELL LNG Outlook 2020»: https://www.shell.com/promos/overview-shell-lng-2020.
60.	 International Gas Union, «2019 World LNG Report»: https://bit.ly/3c5rL5c
61.	 Jessica Jaganathan (Reuters), «LNG investments hit record of $50 billion in 2019 - IEA chief»: https://
reut.rs/3uTouP0
62.	 GIIGNL, «GIIGNL Annual Report»: https://giignl.org/system/files/publication/giignl_-_2020_annual_
report_-_04082020.pdf
63.	 IEA, «Gas 2018 Analysis and Forecasts to 2023»: https://webstore.iea.org/download/
direct/1236?fileName=Market_Report_Series_Gas_2018.pdf.
64.	 Ibid.
65.	 The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, «LNG Portfolio Optimization: Challenge, Opportunity and
Necessity»: https://bit.ly/3sPRuFO
66.	 IGU, «2019 WORLD LNG REPORT»: https://www.igu.org/app/uploads-wp/2019/06/IGU-Annual-
Report-2019_23.pdf
67.	 International Energy Agency, Korea Energy Economics Institute, «LNG Market Trends and Their
Implications Structures, drivers and developments of major Asian importers»: https://webstore.iea.org/
download/direct/2809
68.	 Dahlia Nehme (Reuters), «Qatar plans to boost LNG production to 126 mln T by 2027»: https://reut.
rs/3uNuWqO
69.	 EIA, «EIA expects U.S. net natural gas exports to almost double by 2021»: https://www.eia.gov/
todayinenergy/detail.php?id=42575
70.	 EIA, «Natural Gas Weekly Update for week ending December 11, 2019»: https://bit.ly/2O1sRqL
71.	 EIA, «Natural Gas Weekly Update for week ending December 11, 2019»: https://bit.ly/2O1sRqL
72.	 IEA, «Gas 2020», op. cit.
73.	 Anthony Dipaola (World Oil), «UAE finds 80 tcf gas field, the world’s biggest since 2005»: https://bit.
ly/3bkJ2qH
74.	 European Comission, «EU-U.S. LNG TRADE»: https://ec.europa.eu/energy/sites/ener/files/eu-us_lng_
trade_folder.pdf
75.	 Market Observatory for Energy of European Commission, Vol. 12, «Quarterly Report on European Gas
Markets with focus on the impact of global LNG markets on EU gas imports»: https://bit.ly/3bYJzis
76.	 Ibid.
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77.	 Ibid.
78.	 Ibid.
79.	 Data: Gas Infrastructure Europe
80.	 Market Observatory for Energy of European Commission, Vol. 12, op. cit.
81.	 European Commission, «EU-U.S. LNG TRADE U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) has the potential to help
match EU gas needs»: https://ec.europa.eu/energy/sites/ener/files/eu-us_lng_trade_folder.pdf
82.	 Market Observatory for Energy of European Commission, Vol. 12, op. cit.
83.	 Vitaly Yermakov (Financial Times), «Poland counts the cost of turning down Russian gas taps»: https://
on.ft.com/3kWhqgh
84.	 Market Observatory for Energy of European Commission, Vol. 12, op. cit.
85.	 IGU, «2019 WORLD LNG REPORT», op. cit.
86.	 Vitaly Yermakov (The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies), «Russian Gas: the year of living dangerously.
Key Takeaways for 2020 and Beyond»: https://www.oxfordenergy.org/publications/russian-gas-the-
year-of-living-dangerously/
87.	 Ibid.
88.	 Mashal Jaffery & Peter Thompson (The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies), «LNG Portfolio
Optimization: Challenge, Opportunity and Necessity»: https://www.oxfordenergy.org/wpcms/wp-
content/uploads/2020/10/Insight-74-LNG-Portfolio-Optimization.pdf
89.	 Mashal Jaffery & Peter Thompson (The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies), «LNG Portfolio
Optimization: Challenge, Opportunity and Necessity»: https://www.oxfordenergy.org/wpcms/wp-
content/uploads/2020/10/Insight-74-LNG-Portfolio-Optimization.pdf
90.	 MSM Skolkovo, «International gas market. Monitoring, September 2020»: https://bit.ly/3qf1mXN ; MSM
Skolkovo, «International gas market. Monitoring, October 2020»: https://bit.ly/309FD9f
91.	 James Henderson, (The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies), «Quarterly Gas Review:Short and Medium
Term Outlook for Gas Markets»: https://www.oxfordenergy.org/wpcms/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/
Quarterly-Gas-Review-Issue-10.pdf
92.	 ERIN BLANTON (The Center on Global Energy Policy) «The Impact of Covid-19 on LNG Supplies»:
https://bit.ly/3uWPWeG
93.	 The Center on Global Energy Policy, «The Impact of Covid-19 on LNG Supplies»: https://bit.ly/3bgZsSh
94.	 Bloomberg News, «Global gas markets Q&A: Short-term pain, long-term gain, September 09, 2020»:
https://bloom.bg/3eaBSbI
95.	 Nicholas Newman (Rigzone), «LNG Expands Reach Through Virtual Pipelines»: https://bit.ly/3riP95E
96.	 Vitaly Yermakov (Financial Times), «Poland counts the cost of turning down Russian gas taps», op.cit;
Milda Seputyte (Bloomberg), «Lithuania Grabs LNG in Effort to Curb Russian Dominance»: https://
bloom.bg/38aQy6L
97.	 Three Seas Initiative: http://three-seas.eu/
98.	 MMBtu (106 British thermal units): the amount of heat required to heat 1 pound of water to 1 ° F.
Approximately corresponds to 1, 055 * 109 Joules
99.	 Rystad Energy, «LNG price rollercoaster: From record lows to highs, what can we expect in 2021?»
100.	Ibid.
101.	Laura Hurst & Javier Blas (Bloomberg), «Shell Deepens Big Oil’s Disappointment With Earnings Miss»:
https://bloom.bg/30dRXW0
102.	Eric Yep (S&P Global Plats), «Factbox: Asian spot LNG prices hit record highs on supply glitches, demand
spike»:https://bit.ly/3bdF3xu
103.	Jessica Jaganathan (Reuters), «UPDATE 6-Freezing temperatures push Asian gas prices to new records»:
https://reut.rs/2O2RyTB
104.	Stephen Stapczynski & Anna Shiryaevskaya (Bloomberg), «Asian LNG Breaks $30 Barrier as Cold Makes
Traders Scramble»: https://bloom.bg/3sOI8db
105.	IEA, «Gas 2020», op. cit
106.	Rystad Energy, «LNG price rollercoaster: From record lows to highs, what can we expect in 2021?», op.
cit.
107.	 IEA, «Gas 2020», op. cit
108.	Stanley Reed & Clifford Krauss (The New York Times), «With Oil Prices Down 20%, OPEC Pushes for
Stability»: https://nyti.ms/30dcdqQ
109.	Ibid.
110.	Stanley Reed (The New York Times), «OPEC Proposes a Large Cut in Oil Output»: https://nyti.
ms/30bN53t
111.	Stanley Reed & Clifford Krauss (The New York Times), «With Oil Prices Down 20%, OPEC Pushes for
Stability»,op. cit
112.	Clifford Krauss & Stanley Reed (The New York Times), «Oil Prices Dive as Saudi Arabia Takes Aim at
Russian Production»: https://nyti.ms/2OnRxte
113.	Stanley Reed (The New York Times), «OPEC and Russia Agree to Cut Oil Production»: https://nyti.
ms/3riZkqT
114.	Data: WTI
115.	Data: Henry Hub; WTI
116.	IEA, «The Role of Gas in Today's Energy Transitions»: https://bit.ly/3eaCXAi
117.	Дані: EIA, «How much carbon dioxide is produced when different fuels are burned?»: https://bit.
ly/3v4yzsK
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118.	IEA, «The Role of Gas in Today's Energy Transitions», op. cit
119.	 European Commission, «Powering a climate-neutral economy: Commission sets out plans for the energy
system of the future and clean hydrogen»: https://bit.ly/3uTjcmO
120.	Greenpeace, «China, Japan, and Korea promised carbon neutrality. Now we need them to make it
happen»: https://bit.ly/37CWi92
121.	Joanna Slater (The Washington Post), «Can India chart a low-carbon future? The world might depend on
it.»: https://wapo.st/3qNZnuy
122.	Gavin Law (Wood Mackenzie), «Is natural gas more emissions intensive than coal?»: https://bit.
ly/3skexYR
123.	Anna Shiryaevskaya (Bloomberg), «Qatar and Singapore Sign Gas Deal That Details Pollution»: https://
bloom.bg/2NZgIT6
124.	Total, «Total Delivers Its First Carbon Neutral Lng Cargo»: https://bit.ly/3c5Gw8p
125.	Polskie LNG (Gas Transmission Operator GAZ-SYSTEM), «Terminal Characteristics»: https://bit.
ly/3bduvyo
126.	James Shotter (Financial Times), «Poland aims to break dependence on Russian gas»: https://on.ft.
com/3v2rVDp
127.	PolandIn, «Poland decreases gas imports directly from Russia»: https://bit.ly/2MOCkRK
128.	Ibid.
129.	Kamil Sobczak & Vitaly Yermakov (Oxford Institute for Energy Studies), «Russia-Poland gas relationship:
risks and uncertainties of the ever after»: https://bit.ly/2O46u43
130.	Maria Dumanska (Deutsche Welle), «Ukraine, Poland and the USA signed memorandum on cooperation
in gas sector»: https://bit.ly/3bhXpxs
131.	Polskie Radio, «Liquefied gas for Ukraine arrived in Swinoujscie»: https://bit.ly/3aSuDmP
132.	Ksenia Polskaya (Deutsche Welle), "Ukraine, Poland and the United States signed an agreement on gas
cooperation": https://p.dw.com/p/3OoPx
133.	AB Klaipėdos nafta, «Terminals»: https://www.portofklaipeda.lt/uploads/Leidiniai/Terminalas_9ENG.pdf
134.	Eurostat, «Slight rise in electricity prices, gas prices stable»: https://bit.ly/3kJT5d8
135.	AA Energy, «Lithuania enjoys LNG terminal with lower gas prices»: https://bit.ly/3ef3BYZ
136.	Milda Seputyte (Bloomberg), «Lithuania Grabs LNG in Effort to Curb Russian Dominance»: https://
bloom.bg/3uWPtsY
137.	Andrius Sytas (Reuters), «Lithuania LNG port aims to be Baltic hub, double flows»: https://reut.
rs/30ezbO0
138.	AA Energy, op. cit.
139.	European Commission, «A European Green Deal»: https://bit.ly/3qc0cfP
140.	AB Klaipėdos Nafta, «Bridging Energy Markets»: https://bit.ly/2PnZQpt
141.	The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, «Turkey Gas Storage Expansion Project. Project Document»:
https://bit.ly/3uX8Hiu
142.	The Peninsula, «Qatar Petroleum signs deal to develop world’s largest LNG project»: https://bit.
ly/3cgvMnN
143.	DiXi Group, "Southern Gas Corridor: Prospects for Ukraine": https://bit.ly/3bdhVz9
144.	Nefeli Tzanetakou (ibna), «The EU supports the LNG Krk terminal in Croatia with 100 million euros»:
https://bit.ly/2MKq6te
145.	Igor Ilic (Reuters), «Croatia kicks off LNG terminal in north Adriatic»: https://reut.rs/2O5nyGJ
146.	Enerdata, «Croatia Energy Information»: https://www.enerdata.net/estore/energy-market/croatia/;
Deutsche Welle, «Gazprom loses gas monopoly as Southeast European market advances»: https://bit.
ly/3qgtxFK
147.	 Economichna Pravda, "The United States supplied liquefied natural gas to Croatia: the GTS operator
wants to transport it to Ukraine": https://bit.ly/3uWUYI6
148.	B. Songhurst (Oxford Institute for Energy Studies): «Floating LNG Update – Liquefaction and Import
Terminals»: https://bit.ly/30RN7Oc
149.	A review of FSRU construction cost benchmarks is based on reviews by B. Songhurst (Oxford Institute
for Energy Studies) “The Outlook for Floating Storage and Regasification Units (FSRUs)”: https://bit.
ly/3vycrXE
150.	Table: B. Songhurst (Oxford Institute for Energy Studies): "Floating LNG Update - Liquefaction and
Import Terminals", op. cit.
151.	 B. Songhurst (Oxford Institute for Energy Studies) «The Outlook for Floating Storage and Regasification
Units (FSRUs)», op.cit.
152.	Poten & Partners (LNG in World Markets), «Crewing Challenges Increase With Growing LNG Fleet»:
https://bit.ly/30LxSGR
153.	B. Songhurst (Oxford Institute for Energy Studies) «The Outlook for Floating Storage and Regasification
Units (FSRUs)», op.cit
154.	Ibid.
155.	EUROPEAN COMMISSION, «State aid SA.36740 (2013/NN) – Lithuania; Aid to Klaipedos Nafta – LNG
Terminal»: https://bit.ly/3vqIAkd
156.	King & Spalding, «LNG in Europe 2018: An Overview of Import Terminals in Europe»: https://bit.
ly/3eJRCmh
157.	 Data: EUROPEAN COMMISSION, «State aid SA.36740 (2013/NN) – Lithuania; Aid to Klaipedos Nafta –
LNG Terminal», op. cit.
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158.	Nordic Investment Bank, «NIB continues partnership with Klaipėdos Nafta»: https://bit.ly/3ltleFR
159.	 IGU, «2019 WORLD LNG REPORT», op. cit.
160.	Chart: LNG Hrvatska: https://lng.hr/en/lng-terminal
161.	LNG Hrvatska: https://lng.hr/en/FSRU-vessel
162.	Vessel Finder: https://www.vesselfinder.com/ru/vessels/LNG-CROATIA-IMO-9256767-
MMSI-538006747
163.	GIIGNL, «The LNG industry; GIIGNL Annual Report»: https://bit.ly/3rNN3ep
164.	LNG Croatia, «LNG TERMINAL ON THE ISLAND OF KRK; Status and Project Update»: https://bit.
ly/2Q2b8jy
165.	Etki Liman, «Etki LNG Terminal»: https://bit.ly/3eXEZ7t
166.	Etki Liman: http://www.etkiliman.com.tr/en/FSRU/FSRU.html ; GIIGNL, «The LNG industry; GIIGNL
Annual Report», op. cit.
167.	 Ukrstat
168.	Ministry of energy and coal industry, «The main indicators of energy complex development»: http://mpe.
kmu.gov.ua/minugol/doccatalog/document?id=245416376
169.	 State Service for Geology and Subsoil of Ukraine
170.	Naftogaz, «The volumes of gas use»: https://bit.ly/3bgtBkx
171.	TSO Ukraine
172.	Adriatic LNG, «LNG History»: https://www.adriaticlng.it/en/the-terminal/why-lng/lng-history
173.	IEA, «Gas 2020»: https://www.iea.org/reports/gas-2020/2021-2025-rebound-and-beyond
174.	McKinsey, «Global gas & LNG outlook to 2035»: https://mck.co/3bg5ItC
175.	Shell, «SHELL LNG Outlook 2020»: https://www.shell.com/promos/overview-shell-lng-2020.
176.	Jessica Jaganathan (Reuters), «LNG investments hit record of $50 billion in 2019 - IEA chief»: https://
reut.rs/3uTouP0
177.	Gas Infrastructure Europe
178.	Market Observatory for Energy, Vol. 12, op.cit.
179.	 ERIN BLANTON (The Center on Global Energy Policy) «The Impact of Covid-19 on LNG Supplies»:
https://bit.ly/3uWPWeG
180.	IEA, «Gas 2020», op. cit
181.	Ibid.
182.	PolandIn, «Poland decreases gas imports directly from Russia»: https://bit.ly/2MOCkRK
183.	Марія Думанська (Deutsche Welle), «Україна, Польща та США підписали меморандум про
співпрацю у газовій сфері»: https://bit.ly/3bhXpxs
184.	AB Klaipėdos nafta, «Terminals»: https://www.portofklaipeda.lt/uploads/Leidiniai/Terminalas_9ENG.pdf
185.	Eurostat, «Slight rise in electricity prices, gas prices stable»: https://bit.ly/3kJT5d8
186.	AA Energy, «Lithuania enjoys LNG terminal with lower gas prices»: https://bit.ly/3ef3BYZ
187.	 Milda Seputyte (Bloomberg), «Lithuania Grabs LNG in Effort to Curb Russian Dominance»: https://
bloom.bg/3uWPtsY
188.	Enerdata, «Croatia Energy Information»: https://www.enerdata.net/estore/energy-market/croatia/;
Deutsche Welle, «Gazprom loses gas monopoly as Southeast European market advances»: https://bit.
ly/3qgtxFK
189.	B. Songhurst (Oxford Institute for Energy Studies): «Floating LNG Update – Liquefaction and Import
Terminals»: https://bit.ly/30RN7Oc; B. Songhurst (Oxford Institute for Energy Studies) «The Outlook for
Floating Storage and Regasification Units (FSRUs)»: https://bit.ly/3vycrXE
LNG import
fornotes
LNG import
uifuture.org
Ukrainian Institute for the Future
6, Pamvy Beryndy Lane, Kyiv

Lng eng

  • 3.
    Authors: Nataliya Katser-Buchkovska, AndrianProkip, Iliya Kusa Editor: Tetyana Torchylo CONTENTS INTRODUCTION GAS SUPPLY IN UKRAINE AT THE TURN OF 2020: STATE, THREATS, AND PROSPECTS LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS MARKET AT THE TURN OF 2020. GLOBAL AND REGIONAL CONTEXT ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF LNG PROJECT COMPONENTS FSRU SUMMARY LINKS
  • 4.
  • 5.
    Liquefied natural gas(LNG) is rapidly changing the structure of the global gas industry. Flexible in transportation, safe in use, and competitive in supply, LNG today has already won more than 40% of the physical volume of world gas exports and is expected to reach 60% by 2040. In 2020, the development of the LNG market underwent significant transformations, as the COVID-19 pandemic posed a challenge to the global economy. The pandemic forced the world’s leading countries to rethink the role of coal and, instead, prioritize more environmentally friendly fuels, including natural gas. The United States of America, the European Union, and Asia’s most developed countries are already incorporating general decarbonization trends into their legislations by taxing industrial CO2 emissions and supporting low-carbon business. One by one, financial corporations refuse to invest in environmentally harmful projects. Due to the counties’ and regions’ active switching from coal to more environmentally friendly fuels, the world’s energy sector will undergo even more significant changes in the future. In this process, natural gas will play the role of marginal fuel, facilitating the transition from coal to renewable energy sources and being a partner of green energy by firming it. Ukraine is not yet a full-fledged player in the LNG market, despite all the prerequisites for this. With a favorable geographical location in the heart of Europe, a well-developed infrastructure for gas transmission and distribution networks, a significant economic growth potential, modern maritime infrastructure, a security need in diversifying gas supply routes, and an urgent necessity to replace coal generation, the state should be interested in identifying its supply routes as soon as possible and in using opportunities to develop its own LNG regasification infrastructure. The development of Ukrainian LNG infrastructure is important primarily from a geopolitical point of view. Through reverse supplies from Slovakia, Hungary, and Poland via existing gas transport corridors, Ukraine, on average, imports between 10 and 14 billion m3 of gas 1 . In the medium term (5-7 years), Ukraine can diversify gas supplies by establishing LNG routes through the infrastructure of neighboring countries or by building its own infrastructure. Among Ukraine’s potential partner countries are Lithuania, Poland, Turkey, the United States, Qatar, Azerbaijan, Croatia, and others. LNG is a new global gas trend, and it can play an essential role in strengthening Ukraine’s geopolitical position in the region. High-quality LNG infrastructure is needed to increase regional cross-border trade, competitiveness, and flexibility in the energy market. It is crucial for Ukraine to build regional political, economic, and security alliances based on joint infrastructure projects with partner countries. Restructuring the energy sector, strengthening LNG trade with other countries, and establishing new supply routes – all these tasks require time and precise diplomatic work, significant private investment, and close public-private partnerships. The use of LNG will also allow Ukraine to reap economic benefits, which is especially needed in times of economic downturn. Seasonal volatility of the LNG price in the spot market, growing demand and trade volumes, as well as instability in the oil market, make LNG financially attractive for Ukraine.
  • 6.
    LNG import The developmentof LNG infrastructure will be an essential step towards decarbonization. Ukraine’s energy sector is currently at a dangerous crossroads. While the prospect of focusing on traditional sources looks attractive during the economic downturn, further investment in fossil fuels will have a negative economic effect in the medium term. Natural gas is the most environmentally friendly fossil fuel to replace coal and firm green energy production. Besides, as the fight against global warming intensifies, more and more countries are trying to minimize the carbon footprint in the LNG trade, so even cleaner technologies will soon emerge, potentially reducing the carbon footprint of the LNG infrastructure. This study was initiated by the Ukrainian Institute for the Future, a leading Ukrainian think tank that analyzes major political and economic trends in the country and formulates strategies for key reforms and is supported by the International Renaissance Foundation.
  • 8.
  • 9.
    Natural gas hasalways been a vital energy resource in Ukraine. Even though the reduction of its industrial consumption, economic slowdown, the partial substitution with other types of energy resources, and, to some extent, the energy efficiency improvements resulted in the overall gas consumption decline in recent years, today, gas still plays an important role in the national energy balance: 26.3% in the total primary energy supply and 27.3% in the total final consumption of energy resources. Graph 1. Energy balance of Ukraine 2009-2019 2 Total primary energy supply Total final consumption Generalcharacteristics
  • 10.
    LNG import The state-ownedcompanies of the Naftogaz group remain the key players in natural gas production. Thus, the largest companies in terms of production in 2019 were Ukrgazvydobuvannya (14.9 billion m3 ), DTEK (1.66 billion m3 ), Ukrnafta (1.2 billion m3), UNB (0.74 billion m3 ), Burisma (0.7 billion m3 ), Smart Energy (0.37 billion m3 ), PPC (0.28 billion m3 ), Geo Alliance (0.21 billion m3 ), and KUB-GAS (0.13 billion m3 ).3 Besides, Naftogaz is the key Ukrainian gas trader. According to Naftogaz’s 2019 annual report, in 2018, the group’s share on the Ukrainian Energy Exchange (UEEX) was only 2%; in 2019, however, Naftogaz alone was responsible for over 40% of the UEEX transactions. 5 Graph 2. Dynamics of gas production in Ukraine, 2015-2019 4 Graph 3. Top-20 largest natural gas traders in Ukraine
  • 11.
    As of 2019,the balanced (production) subsoil reserves of natural gas in Ukraine were 882.6 billion m3 . The reserves could provide Ukraine with gas for 42 years ahead (assuming the fixed production rate). 6 Ukraine annually produces only 2.4% of its total natural gas reserves, while developed countries produce about 6% per year. 7 By the Order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine from 28.12.2016 № 1079-p, the government approved the Concept to Develop Gas Production Industry of Ukraine by 2020, which was aimed to increase gas production and attract investments in the industry. However, the concept was never really implemented. According to Ryder Scott Company’s calculations, Ukrgazvydobuvannya’s confirmed gas reserves are 276 billion m3 , about 30% of Ukraine’s total subsoil reserves. 8 In addition, it is critical to note the annual growth of production and technological costs (PTC) of Ukrgazvydobuvannya. While in 2016, PTC was 0.7 billion m3 , at the production level of 14.5 billion m3 , in 2019, they rose to 1.2 billion m3 , at 14.84 billion m3 level. 9 Among everything, 2020 was marked by the conclusion of seven production sharing agreements (PSAs), competitions held a year earlier. These are Buzivska, Berestyanska, Balakliyska, Ivanivska, Sofiivska, Zinkivska, and Uhnivska sections, with a total area of over 7,000 km2 . The companies undertook to drill more than 30 wells; the guaranteed investment in these projects will be at least $355 million.10 The accomplishment is very promising for the industry, as transparent competitions and the establishment of favorable conditions for the winners will attract investors with a clearly defined list of investment commitments and work programs to develop large-scale and complex projects. Thus, the concluded agreements will allow to achieve reliable cooperation, stable flow of investments, job opportunities expansion, and development of the country’s gas potential. The conclusion of seven deals was also a positive shift compared to the results of 2015 when Shell and Chevron canceled their PSA projects. It is also worth mentioning the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers to sell the Yuzov section of Naftogaz, which promises to expand the development of one of the largest deposits in Ukraine in the coming years. For a long time, the development Dolphin offshore gas field remained uncertain. Located in the northwestern part of the continental shelf of the Black Sea, with an area of 9.5 thousand km2 and total reserves of 286 million tons of conventional fuel, the field was especially important for Ukraine. Finally, in 2021, Naftogaz received 20 special permits to use the subsoil of the Scythian field and the Dolphin field for the next 30 years. 11 Despite the significant role of gas in Ukraine’s energy sector, our domestic production is insufficient to meet local needs. Over the past three decades, Ukrainian production has been about 20 billion m3 per year, while domestic consumption was almost 30 billion m3 of gas per year. That is why Ukraine has been and remains dependent on gas imports.
  • 12.
    LNG import Graph 4.Dynamics of volumes of consumption and import of natural gas in Ukraine 1999-2019 12 In addition, given the decarbonization trend of the next 20-30 years, the demand for fossil fuels is expected to fall sharply. Consequently, falling demand would decrease global gas prices and economic incentives to invest in extractive industries. Besides declining exports, gas-producing countries will face a rapid reduction of investment in fossil fuels. International financial institutions are already refusing to finance oil and gas production, redistributing capital in favor of renewable energy and hydrogen. Thus, taking the current trends into account, the question of increasing gas production’s feasibility in Ukraine remains open.
  • 13.
    The collapse ofthe Soviet Union and the declaration of independence forged new political and economic conditions for Ukraine. Suddenly Ukraine had to shift to the different rules in the economy and adapt to the new interstate relations. The abolishment of the production and logistics chains between the former Soviet countries became one of the most critical causes of the economic crisis that caused the recession of 1991-1994. As a result, there was a shortage of liquid funds to pay for energy consumption. Moreover, the government struggled with rapid change in the economic model – from administrative command to the market transitioning and did not fully understand that the incoming energy resources would come at a price and the price would be much higher than before. At first, the authorities did not understand what for and later were not ready to bring the gas price to market levels for both household and industrial consumers. Lack of market understanding laid the preconditions for the growing debts in gas payments and the first gas conflicts between Ukraine and the Russian Federation. A few years later, Russia realized that the energy lever was the most effective tool to pressure neighboring countries and force them to be loyal to the Kremlin. Ukrainian debts for Russian gas began to accumulate already at the end of 1991, immediately after the collapse of the USSR. It was also during that time when the first reports from the Russian side about the intention to cut off gas supplies appeared. However, no actual steps were undertaken. Russia’s threats did not change the situation, and Ukrainian debts continued to accumulate. On August 20, 1992, Russia and Ukraine signed the agreement, according to which the former agreed to supply 70 billion m3 of natural gas to Ukraine for domestic consumption and 100 billion m3 of gas to transit to other European countries. 13 Consequently, these and subsequent debts, which accumulated in the form of technical loans, were restructured into the public debt of Ukraine with a plan for its further repayment (such debt restructuring mechanisms were used during 1993-1995). However, the payment mechanism remained flawed, and in August 1993, Russia cut off the gas supply for 11 days. HistoryoftheUkrainianGas IndustryandUkrainian-Russian GasRelations Gas relations with Russia after Ukraine’s independence
  • 14.
    LNG import Ukraine’s trumpcard, of course, was in transit, and as a result of intergovernmental negotiations, gas supplies were restored. As Ukraine lacked funds for the full payments, Russia offered to lease the Ukrainian gas transmission system (GTS), yet Kyiv did not accept the offer. The debt for gas supplies also did not play in Ukraine’s favor in the summer of 1993, during the division of the Black Sea Fleet. At Russia’s request, the issue of repaying gas debts was at the top of the agenda. To sign the Massandra Accords, Ukraine had to cede to Russia a significant part of the Black Sea Fleet’s property as a way to repay gas debts. This agreement was the first manifestation of the critical importance of the gas issue for Ukraine’s national security, integrity, and sovereign policy. However, energy- related matters continued to be underestimated in domestic and foreign policies. In early 1994, Russia suspended supplies to Ukraine for several days due to a rapid increase in debt and, as compensation, in turn, unsuccessfully demanded ownership of gas assets. However, later Ukraine had to agree to compromise, thus agreed to transfer for temporary use a part of the Black Sea Fleet’s infrastructure and abandon some of the claims during the dispute over the division of Soviet property abroad. As of the end of 1994, the debt to Gazprom was already over $2 billion. 14 Gas conflict of 2005-2006 In 2004, Ukraine signed a five-year contract to supply gas from Central Asia for $50 per thousand m3 . However, the Orange Revolution rapidly changed Ukrainian political elites and shifted the foreign policy direction away from Russia, changing the gas supply’s political and economic conditions accordingly. Thus, in December 2004, Turkmenistan demanded an increase in gas prices from Russia and Ukraine from $44 to $60, and by December 31, unexpectedly, it stopped supplies altogether. The negotiations with Ukraine followed immediately, and soon the price was agreed at $58. Besides, countries agreed that the gas would be supplied by the newly formed company Rosukrenergo. Supplies from Turkmenistan to Russia resumed only in May after both sides agreed on price terms. 15 In 2005, the Ukrainian side finally abandoned the idea of a tripartite consortium (it was supposed to consist of Ukraine, Russia, and a European country – for example, Germany), which emerged during Leonid Kuchma’s presidency. The consortium would own and operate the Ukrainian GTS. The renunciation of this idea put an end to Russia’s intentions to continue using the Ukrainian gas route only. Instead, it created an incentive for Russia to consider the construction of gas pipelines bypassing Ukraine. This became a new page in Russia’s use of political instruments for influence. The refusal also triggered Russia to discredit Ukraine as a reliable supplier in order to gain support for the construction of new gas pipelines in Europe. After Ukraine rejected the idea of a consortium in the summer of 2005, the Russian Duma voted to set European gas prices for some post-Soviet and post-socialist countries, including Ukraine. This was another attempt to acquire influence over Ukrainian GTS. It sang with the period of rising prices for oil and other energy sources, so the gas price for Ukraine became 3-4 times higher than for some European countries.
  • 15.
    In the firstquarter of 2006, Gazprom bought all the gas available for pumping in Turkmenistan and demanded Ukraine to pay $230 per thousand m3 for the supplies. Ukraine refused, and so on January 1, 2006, supplies ceased. Therefore, Ukrainian transit to the EU and other countries was sharply reduced: Austria, Italy, Poland, France, Hungary, Slovakia, and Romania – all reported declining shipments. European discontent hastened the resolution of the dispute. Gazprom and Naftogaz settled the problem and signed a 5-year contract, which established Rosukrenergo as the gas supplier and banned gas re-export. Rosukrenergo was supplying a mixture of gas from Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Russia. Ukraine and its companies did not directly contract gas from these countries, as Gazprom-Export carried out the operation. Accordingly, the price was tied to the conditions set by the supplier countries. Naftogaz and Rosukrenergo have set up a joint venture, Ukrgaz-Energo, to supply gas to large consumers within Ukraine. Gas conflict of 2008-2009 Despite the signed contract, Ukraine was not entirely satisfied with Rosukrenergo’s participation in supplies, mainly due to Ukraine’s debts to Gazprom. The split in political elites on this confrontation led to a new, even sharper round of gas wars between Ukraine and Russia. At the end of 2007, Russia planned to increase the price for gas supplies to Ukraine by 38%. 16 Later, after a break of almost two weeks in gas transit, the parties signed a contract with gas prices tied to oil and take-or-pay commitments. Kharkiv agreements of 2010 The globally increasing energy price also affected the price for gas imports under the current contract. This prompted Ukraine to seek additional gas price discounts. Under the Kharkiv agreements ratified in April 2010, Ukraine received a 30% discount on gas to extend Russia’s lease of the Black Sea Fleet. 17 Obviously, after the annexation of Crimea, Russia refused to provide a discount on gas to rent the Black Sea Fleet. This was, in fact, the second high-profile case of when miscalculations in the country’s energy policy affected national security. Stockholm arbitration and supplies from the EU In April 2014, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk announced Naftogaz’s intention to file a lawsuit against Gazprom in the Stockholm Arbitration Court. The Russian side demanded payments for insufficient gas extraction, which under the terms of the 2009 contract was to amount to 52 billion m3 . In addition, the announced price of gas for current supplies in the second quarter of 2014 under the contract was $485 and was higher than the price for neighboring European countries. Since November 25, 2015, Ukraine began to import gas exclusively from the EU. 18
  • 16.
    LNG import In late2017, the Stockholm Arbitration Court ruled in favor of Naftogaz: Gazprom is obliged to pay $2.56 billion, including the offset of $2.1 billion, which Naftogaz received as gas supplied in 2014. The fine has also been the subject of controversy between Naftogaz and Gazprom. The main concern was that it would affect the future of the transit contract, especially considering the construction of bypassing routes: Turkish Stream 2 and Nord Stream 2. The launch of these pipelines could deprive Gazprom of the need for Ukrainian transit. The situation was complicated by the unbundling process that began in 2017. Under the Association Agreement with the EU, Ukraine pledged to implement the EU’s Third Energy Package, which, among other things, required the separation of gas transmission system operators from gas companies. 20 Hence, Ukraine started the largest energy reform since its independence: separating the transit system from Naftogaz, i.e., creating an independent operator. The unbundling had to become a proxy for competition, as all traders would have equal access to the market, and was aimed to help improve Ukrainian GTS and overall facilitate the transportation process. On the eve of 2020, the parties – Naftogaz, the newly created Transmission System Operator of Ukraine (TSO), and Gazprom – agreed and signed a five-year transit contract. The parties renounced mutual claims, and Gazprom paid Naftogaz $2.91 billion by the decision of the Stockholm Arbitration Court (the result of the claim and the accrued penalty). 21 On December 30, 2019, the parties signed three documents: the agreement between Gazprom and Naftogaz on the organization of transportation, the transport agreement between Naftogaz and TSO, and the inter-operator agreement between Gazprom and TSO. The contract provides for at least 65 billion m3 of Russian gas transit in 2020 and 40 billion m3 annually during 2021-2024. Table 1. Volumes of natural gas imports to Ukraine by directions in 2014-2020, billion m3 19
  • 17.
    For comparison, in2017, transit amounted to 93.5 billion m3 , and in 2019 – 89.6 billion m3 . The rule “pump or pay” meant the irrefutable payment of the minimum volume of transit even at lower physical volumes of pumping 22 . On January 1, 2020, one day after the signing of the agreement, Naftogaz’s subsidiary Ukrtransgaz transferred control of the transit system to the TSO, which became the property of the Mahistralni Gazoprovody Ukrainy and, accordingly, the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine. The acceptance-transfer act consisted of 47 thousand units, the book value of which amounted to more than 32 billion hryvnias. Thus, on January 1, 2020, Ukraine concluded the unbundling 23 . Unbundling not only separated suppliers from transit but also laid the foundation for a gas market. Since August 2020, gas prices in Ukraine are determined by competition. Importers, traders, and extractive companies supply gas to the market, the TSO, and the Underground Storage Operator (UGS) transport gas. Gas supply companies and gas distribution companies buy gas at the market and deliver it to end consumers. At the same time, the National Commission for Regulation of Energy and Utilities (NCREU) monitors compliance with the rules and the functioning of the market.
  • 18.
    LNG import At theend of 2020, the Verkhovna Rada also voted in support of the bill that allowed TSO to gain access to the gas exchange, which would allow companies to buy gas quicker and at a better price. Such an exchange increases the liquidity of the gas market, which was another requirement of the EU’s Third Energy Package. Graph 5. Gas market functioning scheme 24
  • 19.
    The signing ofa five-year transit contract postponed the problem of GTS’s urgent restructuring. However, the reduction of transit volumes compared to the design capacity urged its modernization and the search for alternative use options. In addition, the GTS’s future after the expiration of the current transit contract is unclear. It is also essential to study the existing opportunities for GTS, including LNG supply and further expansion. General characteristics of Ukraine’s GTS Ukraine'sgastransmissionsystem anddiversificationofnaturalgas supplyroutes Map 1. Ukraine’s GTS 25
  • 20.
    LNG import Features 26 : totallength of gas pipelines – 37,933,360km: main gas pipelines – 22,202,788 km main gas pipelines-branches – 13 339,922km distribution gas pipelines – 2,390.65 km number of UGS facilities – 12 projected active volume of all underground storage facilities – 30.95 billion m3 Table 2. Design parameters of UGS 27
  • 21.
  • 22.
    LNG import Under suchconditions, the main priority of the Ukrainian GTS should be transiting and ensuring reliable gas supplies to the domestic market with a minimum level of investment and costs. At the same time, it is necessary to carry out repair and re-equipment of the worn-out equipment and preservation or decommission of not loaded segments of GTS. Given the growing demands of contractors on the efficiency and quality of transportation services, it is necessary to increase the overall operational efficiency of the GTS. Ukraine and TSO must pay additional attention to setting favorable for European consumer transport tariffs, which would be lower than the tariffs of bypass pipelines.
  • 23.
    Integration of theGTS of Ukraine in the network of neighboring European countries The bandwidth of the Ukrainian GTS interconnectors with Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and the reverse capability can potentially increase the reverse’s bandwidth. Today, the total capacity of the exit points from the GTS to the EU is 456.9 million m3 : 29 to Poland – 14.5 million m3 to Hungary – 40.2 million m3 to Slovakia – 281.9 million m3 to Romania – 95.1 million m3 To improve Ukrainian energy security, ensure gas supply diversification, and integrate domestic natural gas market into the Energy Community’s market, GAZ-System S.A. and the TSO joined efforts in analyzing the effectiveness of the project on the gas pipeline- interconnector Poland-Ukraine. The planned gas interconnector includes constructing the DN700 Germanovichi- Strachotcin gas pipeline (72 km) and the DN1000 gas pipeline from Germanovichi to the Polish-Ukrainian border (1.5 km) on the Polish side, including a border measuring station and a compressor station in Strachotsyn. The entire investment includes three main parts: linear infrastructure, production infrastructure, and data management and collection system (SCADA). The gas pipeline will connect the Germanovichi junction on the Polish side with the TSO of Ukraine in the area of the Bilche-Volytsya underground storage facility on the Ukrainian side and is designed to work in both directions. The construction of the main gas pipeline-interconnector Drozdovychi-Bilche-Volytsia with the following characteristics is defined as the main variant of expansion within Ukrainian borders: length – about 100 km, conditional diameter – 1000 mm, working pressure – 7.4 MPa. Capacity: in the direction Poland-Ukraine: Q = 5-8 billion m3 /year in the direction Ukraine-Poland: Q = 5-7 billion m3 /year. The project is included in the ENTSOG Ten-Year Development Plan for 2015-2025 and in the list of Projects of Common Interest of the Energy Community (PMI). 30 To make a final decision on the project, operators are preparing for a binding procedure, “open season” (pre-sale of capacity), which will assess the demand of participants in Ukraine and Poland’s natural gas markets and the economic feasibility of the project. This procedure is entirely in line with European best practices for pre-allocation of capacity.
  • 24.
    LNG import Possibilities ofsupply of regasified LNG from Poland to Ukraine are confirmed. Currently, Ukraine can accept up to 6.6 billion m3 of gas per year in the interruptible capacity mode. 31 Poland plans (in case of Ukraine’s request) the same capacity for 2021- 2022. TSO will consider gas supplies from other countries after the expansion of the interconnector through Romania. Poland To deepen the integration of the GTS of Ukraine and neighboring European countries, the TSO of Ukraine and the Polish operator GAZ SYSTEM agreed on the terms of cooperation at the connection points of the GTS Germanovichi and Drozdovichi, which are entirely based on EU legislation. Germanovichi connection point can carry out virtual reverse operations, while allocations are made according to the operating balancing account, which is not reset every month. 32 The construction of the Poland-Ukraine interconnector is another important project for Ukraine. After the agreement between the Polish company PGNiG and American companies on the purchase and possible supply of American liquefied natural gas to Poland, the Poland-Ukraine interconnector can be used to further supply this gas to Ukraine. The existing gas pipeline Komarno-Drozdovichi was built in the 70s and today is not reliable enough; therefore, the new interconnector could be viable. In the medium term (after 2024), it is advisable to consider the construction of an interconnector with a capacity of 8.5 billion m3 per year (in Ukraine / Poland). This project is also a matter of national energy security. The project might see a green light due to the US’s commitment, which is confirmed by signing a tripartite Memorandum on gas cooperation between the US, Poland, and Ukraine. The Memorandum should result in a regional structure between Ukraine and Poland. This will help reduce dependence on gas supplies from Russia and facilitate the management of critical gas deficiencies (for example, due to extremely low temperatures and hence peak gas consumption in Europe). The structure can become a hub for gas exports to neighboring countries. Among other things, Ukraine and Poland discuss the possibility of increasing gas supplies to Ukraine up to 6 billion m3 per year after the launch of the Baltic Pipe gas pipeline (approximately the end of 2022) and the expansion of the Swinoujscie terminal, from where, through the Germanovichi gas pipeline, the gas will be delved to Ukraine. Hungary The TSO of Ukraine and the Hungarian Operator FGSZ have agreed to cooperate at the connection points Beregovo and Beregdarots. The cooperation will be based on the standard business rules, which comply with cross-border cooperation and EU legislation rules. 33 Romania Romanian Operator TRANSgaz and TSO of Ukraine signed an agreement on cooperation according to European rules. The agreement provides for the possibility
  • 25.
    of free transportationof gas from Southern Europe via Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine to Moldova with a capacity of 17.8 million m3 per day. Romania will remain a transit route in all scenarios, but its role will diminish after the launch of the Turkish Stream. 34 Moldova To fully unblock the Trans-Balkan Gas Corridor, the TSO of Ukraine and Moldovatransgaz, together with Moldovagaz, signed an inter-operator technical cooperation agreement. This document allows transporting gas between Ukraine and Moldova in both directions through underground storage facilities Oleksiivka, Hrebenyky, Ananyiv, Lymanske, Kaushany. In addition, the parties signed an agreement on gas transportation by Ukraine and Moldova for consumers in the border areas. Moldova has already made shipments to store gas at Ukrainian UGS’s facilities. 35 The signed Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in gas security, although not legally binding, should strengthen energy security in the region. It must eliminate and prevent an energy crisis and effectively mitigate possible interruptions in natural gas supply, particularly to protected consumers on both sides of the border. Both Ukraine and Moldova are highly interdependent when it comes to securing gas supplies. The structure and configuration of the natural gas transmission network determine Moldova’s dependence on natural gas flows through Ukraine. At the same time, consumers in some Ukrainian regions depend on natural gas flows through Moldova. Russia On December 30, 2019, in Vienna, the TSO of Ukraine signed an inter-operator agreement with Gazprom (Operator of the Russian GTS). The agreement guarantees the extension of Russian gas transit through Ukraine for five years and can be prolonged for another ten years. The minimum volume of transit for 2020 is 65 billion m3 per year and secures the minimum of 40 billion m3 annually for the next four years. Slovakia On December 31, 2019, the TSO of Ukraine signed a technical cooperation agreement with the Slovak operator EUSTREAM. The agreement concerned the connection points Uzhhorod-Velke Kapushany and Budintse. The conclusion of this agreement meant that the TSO of Ukraine signed international documents with all neighboring operators – Poland, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, Slovakia, and Russia. 36 In addition, the potential introduction of a virtual connection point between Slovakia and Ukraine will have a positive impact on the economies of both countries. The virtual point will not only help increase gas transportation, which in turn will increase budget revenues, but will also ensure uninterrupted transportation and decrease CO2 emissions by reducing the use of fuel gas for compressor stations. The issue of auction-based capacity allocation at the state border, which the EU’s Third Energy Package requires, also remains relevant today. If Slovakia introduces transparent and fair competition, it will positively affect the economies of both Ukraine and Slovakia.37
  • 26.
    LNG import Assessment ofthe scale and consequences of the complete cessation or significant reduction of gas transit to Ukraine In case of ceasing the transit, the TSO of Ukraine 38 provides the following steps: with the annual volume of gas consumption in Ukraine within 35 billion m3 per year to ensure a reliable gas supply to Ukrainian consumers to compensate for seasonal and daily fluctuations sufficient filling of Ukrainian UGS at the level of 47.5-55% (14.7-17.0 billion m3 active gas excluding 4,662 million m3 of non-reversible active gas, which technologically performs the functions of a buffer); to ensure a reliable supply of natural gas to national consumers in the winter (February-March) and secure that active gas reserves in UGS are formed in a way that guarantees the daily withdrawal of UGS in this period at 133 million m3 per day, while the active gas in UGS will remain at 13 billion m3 . Technical measures to increase the daily productivity of gas storage facilities have also been developed and implemented; taking into account the need to meet the demand of Ukrainian consumers in the withdrawal season, UGS of Ukraine will able to provide consumers of other countries with free storage of 14-16 billion m3 . The problematic regions that may be left without gas are those that rely on Russian supplies (the city of Vovchansk with a population of 20,000 in the Kharkiv region and two other settlements), the South of Odesa region, and some settlements in the east of the country. It would seem that problems may arise in countries that simultaneously depended on the supply of Russian gas and its delivery through Ukraine, namely: Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Moldova, whose government cannot resolve the issue of Transnistrian gas consumption debt repayment. However, the launch of the TurkStream will allow shipping gas directly to Turkey, as well as to other the countries of Southern and Southeastern Europe (since the beginning of the year, gas has been flowing to Greece and Northern Macedonia). TurkStream will be a key route for natural gas to the region, bypassing the Trans-Balkan gas pipeline. Thus, we can assume that Russia is changing its transit partner from Ukraine to Turkey. If Nord Stream 2 is commissioned and both branches of TurkStream (15.75 billion m3 per year) are fully operational, Russia is unlikely to extend its transit contract with Ukraine under current conditions. 39 Since January 1, 2020, gas transit through Ukraine in the Balkan direction via the Trans- Balkan gas pipeline is carried out only to cover the needs of Romania and Moldova. Bulgaria (which also started receiving part of LNG gas from Greece last year) and Turkey do not receive gas through Ukraine anymore. Therefore, the gas pipeline will work in reverse mode, which became possible after the re-equipment of the system. The decrease in transit volumes and transit revenues may cause more than half of the export gas pipelines to become idle/underloaded. To transport gas to all regions within the country, it will be necessary to maintain the system’s functioning at a sufficient level, which will cause a significant increase in gas prices.
  • 27.
    Even though thetransit issue might seem unstable, it is not yet critical: Turkey is a critical partner (strategic partner, hub, new field). The country is neither a member of the EU nor a party to the Energy Community but has already reduced domestic gas consumption, specifically the consumption of Russian gas. In addition, some sources claim that there is a high probability that the contract between Gazprom Export and the Turkish company BOTAŞ will not be extended at all after April 2021; 40 There is a significant decline in gas production in Europe (the Netherlands, the UK). 41 Therefore, the demand for gas transit from Russia to its consumer partners in Europe may increase. Given the capacity of bypass pipelines and the lack of their ability to respond to gas consumption peaks in specific periods of time, Ukraine’s GTS (and its UGS) may remain an essential corridor for transit; The specifics of bypassing pipelines commissioning present a certain timeframe to find a new route of gas supply; Within the next ten years, the transit agreements of Russia with Romania (2023), Bulgaria (2030), and Poland (which has already announced its intention not to extend the contract with Russia since 2023) are going to expire. With a far-sighted policy, this situation can be used to meet the needs of European gas consumers by offering them to use extensive Ukrainian system of main gas pipelines and the largest underground storage facilities in Eastern Europe; The possibility of alternative use of the GTS of Ukraine to support its efficient operation (pneumatic transport, gas storage in pipes, etc.); Although the Trans-Balkan Pipeline has already been launched and transit through Ukraine has, as expected, decreased significantly, representatives of the TSO announced that they consider utilizing the old Trans-Balkan Pipeline infrastructure and creating a new corridor for gas supplies from Bulgaria, Turkey, and Greece to Ukraine in the amount of up to 15.8 million m3 per day. 42 02 03 04 05 06 01
  • 28.
    LNG import The ideaof building LNG terminals in Ukraine was related to the intention to diversify the supply of resources and reduce dependence on Russia. With each of the gas wars described above, Ukraine’s desire for energy independence became more apparent, and construction of the LNG terminal was getting more and more attractive. The idea to build a liquefied gas regasification terminal was first voiced in 2006. Naftogaz was considering an option of building a plant on the Black Sea coast that could receive gas from Libya and Egypt and later liquefy it for supply to Ukraine’s gas transmission system. Later, Ukraine also considered gas supplies from Azerbaijan, specifically from the Shah Deniz 2 field (it was under development at the time). In 2009, the Ministry of Fuel and Energy even set up a working group to develop the idea of an LNG terminal. At that time, the cost of construction was estimated at $2.5 billion. 43 The idea got a second wind at the end of 2010 after another gas war with Russia raised the price to $250 per thousand m3 . 44 In December, the government has officially created the “National project “LNG-terminal” enterprise. At that time, Ukraine planned to supply liquefied gas from North Africa and Azerbaijan to substitute Russian gas. Two years later, after the price of Russian gas reached a record $430 per thousand m3 , Ukrainian authorities stated that they had found an investor who was to lead the construction consortium and attract new investors. The project was thoroughly planned. The gas liquefaction plant was to be located in the South of the Odesa region. Authorities planned to lease a vessel to Excelerate Energy to transport Ukraine’s imported gas. A floating installation of FSRU with a total capacity of over 5 billion m3 was supposed to store and regasify natural gas as early as 2015. The project also accounted for the onshore terminal for LNG reception, which was supposed to start operating later. According to the drafted Energy Strategy of Ukraine until 2030, in 2015, the country’s demand for gas imports was to range from 33.7 to 34.3 billion m3 . In 2020, thanks to the LNG project, Ukraine was to import 27.1- 29.2 billion m3 . 45 The terminal could cover 15 to 35% of Ukraine’s gas needs, costing Ukraine €60 million (according to plan, the remaining €800 million for terminal and an additional €130 million for the gas pipeline between the plant and the network were supposed to be covered by investors). 46 Implementing the LNG terminal project with a capacity of 10 billion m3 is still economically justified given the current volume of gas imports and price before the collapse of the markets in 2019. Development of the project and selection of the location required Ukraine to hold conceptual design works, which would have allowed to determine the preparation of the basic design of the LNG-terminal and the technical conditions of previous technical solutions. The terminal production equipment list with division into the sea and coastal parts were also determined. HistoryofLNGterminals constructioninUkraine
  • 29.
    During the finalproject development, it will be specified, taking into account the conditions of a selected location. As of 2021, the status of the National Project “LNG Ukraine – the creation of infrastructure for the supply of liquefied gas to Ukraine” at the state level remains uncertain. In 2015-2016, Naftogaz and its enterprises were not involved in the project implementation. However, Naftogaz took the opportunity to submit proposals to the relevant ministries to resume the project. To adjust the organizational structure of the LNG project and its resuscitation, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (CMU), by order of August 5, 2015 №826-p, decided to assign the state enterprise “National project “LNG- terminal” to the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine. 47 Also, the Action Plan of the Ministry of Energy on implementing the Program of CMU and the Sustainable Development Strategy “Ukraine 2020” in 2015 provided: to develop and submit to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine a draft order of the CMU for approval of the LNG terminal project. According to the Plan, during the preparation of this concept, the results of negotiations with Turkey on the issue of the unimpeded passage of the Bosphorus by tankers should be taken into account. 48 Some domestic private and foreign companies (USA, Turkey, and others) remain interested in building an LNG terminal in Ukraine. Aware of the importance of the LNG project to ensure the energy security of Ukraine, the Ministry of Energy and Naftogaz, within its competence, in a great degree contributed to the implementation of constructive proposals and measures that will facilitate the implementation of such projects. Thus, in 2014, Ukraine started cooperating with private Ukrainian investors, who planned to implement an alternative project to construct a floating LNG terminal (floating storage and regasification unit, FSRU) in the waters of the same Yuzhny port. However, the project is currently suspended due to declining interest, primarily because of the uncertainty around the Bosphorus Strait. At the same time, Ukraine must have studied the interest of companies and the possibility of organizing the supply of LNG within the Black Sea basin, which would allow to avoid the problem of the Bosphorus. To this end, in July 2015, the Naftogaz signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the American company Frontera, which expressed interest in investing in the construction of an LNG terminal in Ukraine and organizing supplies to the LNG terminal obtained from its exploration and production sites in eastern Georgia. 49
  • 30.
    LNG import Floating storageand regasification unit (FSRU) as a concept was developed in 2005 under the pressing need to address the problem of storage and regasification of LNG. The first considered FSRU was not a new unit but re-equipped from an existing carrier. These first FSRU projects had shorter delivery times compared to terrestrial terminals. For most operating FSRUs today, there were compelling reasons: some were politically motivated, while others were incentivized by location, schedule, civil safety requirements, or environmental constraints. These factors were decisive for the choice of FSRU compared to terrestrial LNG terminals. FSRUs are not substitutes for terrestrial solutions but rather complementary options. In general, ground-based LNG terminals are more versatile, often performing LNG transshipment, ship bunkering, and LNG tanker loading systems, which may be necessary for some markets and infrastructure systems. Over the past few years, several projects have used a different technology – floating storage units (FSU). These units are only suitable for storage. The regasification system is installed either on the pier, a separate floating regasification barge (FSRB), or on the ground terminal. If Ukraine builds its own gas storage and reception facilities on the Black Sea coast, the state being landlocked has great potential for developing the LNG supply market. For the last ten years, one of the main projects is the “Yuzhnyi” Terminal project, which includes constructing storage facilities and the lease of a floating regasification platform (FSRU). The analysis of the current and projected gas market shows that Ukraine has a strong base for its consumption in the industrial and housing sectors. Using a floating LNG regasification platform in Ukraine is currently justified, given the estimated cost of such a project and the possibility of renting an LNG vessel.
  • 32.
  • 33.
    The development ofliquefied natural gas began with the construction of an experimental plant for the production and storage of LNG in 1912 in Virginia (USA). 50 This was an installation that allowed liquefying natural gas to parametric values, which are still used today. As this installation was experimental and the beginning of the First World War significantly slowed down the study of liquefaction technology, this plant was able to start operating at full capacity only in 1917. Experiencing a global boom in fossil resources, including natural gas, there was no need for logistical flexibility. The situation changed with the outbreak of World War II, which led to problems with the delivery and provision of energy resources to the allies under all embargoes and restrictions of their own food bases. The East Ohio Gas Company (EOG) pioneered global solutions, building a liquefaction and regasification plant in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1941, just after a subsidiary of Hope Natural Gas Company in West Virginia had successfully tested a pilot project. The plant operated successfully for three years, but in 1944, according to a report from the US Bureau of Mines, the tanks with LNG failed. As a result of the malfunction, significant volumes of gas and steam leaked from the tanks, causing a series of explosions and started a fire that engulfed nearby houses. Overall, the fire killed nearly 130 people and caused at least $6.8 million in damage. 51 After this incident, the US stopped developing LNG projects for six years to improve the conditions of storage, transportation, and, above all, security. In 1959, Methane Pioneer delivered LNG from Lake Charles, Louisiana, to Canvas Island in England to develop commercial LNG delivery options, demonstrating for the first time that LNG could be safely transported across the ocean. 52 After the first seven successful LNG shipments, the British Gas Council decided to import LNG from Venezuela. However, due to the discovery of deposits in Libya and Algeria (later, the first world’s first commercial liquefaction terminal was built in Arzew, Algeria), it was decided to import LNG from Algeria, which became the world’s first commercial LNG exporter (1964). So, LNG supplies to the United Kingdom could not compete with deposits discovered in the North Sea. 53 Later, Japan entered the liquefied natural gas market, first importing LNG from Alaska in 1969.54 In the same year, trade relations between Algeria and France, Libya and Italy, and Spain also began, so the first contractual trade relations were concluded. The development of the LNG market in 1972 led to the expansion of the trading zone, which the United States, with its four regasification units, joined later. In 1973, the Pacific region began to play an important role when Korea and Taiwan joined as importing countries. The first operations to import LNG from Brunei to Japan were underway. 55 Since 1991, the LNG market has been rapidly growing. This was especially true for Australia, whose export capacity expanded significantly due to the discovery of the Darwin gas shelf. Generaloverviewoftheworld LNGmarket
  • 34.
    LNG import Since thebeginning of the 21st century, the LNG market has been growing rapidly, so, during 2000-2011, the growth averaged 7.5% per year, reaching more than 300 billion m3 at the end of the period. 56 As of 2019, the global LNG market volume was about 483.4 billion m3 .57 The development of LNG trade has forever changed the state of the natural gas market, effectively merging regional markets into global ones and intensifying competition. According to the results of 2019, the share of LNG in the total international trade in natural gas for the first time was a record 11%, and it is expected that by 2035 this share will increase to 18%, replacing domestic production and traditional gas.58 This year’s developments marked the sixth consecutive year of continuous growth in this segment. According to some estimates, by 2040, the demand for LNG may double.59 Naturally, such growth in the LNG market was accompanied by growing investment. In 2019 the total investments in this industry reached a record $50 billion. 61 Within the decade-long timeframe, LNG production and consumption has changed significantly: the number of LNG importing countries increased from 23 in 2009 to 42 in 2019; the number of producing countries is now 20 62 ; In addition, even lower-carbon solutions are gradually emerging in the gas markets.  Graph 6. Dynamics of LNG trade capacities and number of involved countries 60
  • 35.
    Map 3. Regionalretrospective and perspective of LNG exports 63 Map 4. Regional retrospective and perspective of LNG imports 64 LNG trends in 2019-2020 and supply/demand forecasts
  • 36.
    LNG import Graph 7.Key LNG exporters and importers, 2019 65 The global leaders in LNG exports in 2019 were Qatar, Australia, the United States, and Russia. 66 It is the latter two countries that have significantly strengthened their positions in the run-up to 2020. By 2022, Qatar, Australia, and the United States are expected to be the largest LNG exporters with a total market share of over 50%. 67 The key regional segments of the global LNG market are Asia-Pacific, North America, and Europe. The Asia-Pacific region is the largest and the most dynamic one. Qatar, a global leader in LNG exports, has a production capacity of 77 million tons per year. 68 Since the mid-1990s, the country has focused on gas exports, building more terminals for its liquefaction and storage tanks. Qatar has long been a major supplier of LNG to Europe. However, the country’s share of the global LNG market is gradually declining due to the emergence of other players and their growing capacity. Other key players in the region are Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Algeria.
  • 37.
    The American regionis another significant segment of the global liquefied natural gas market. The United States occupies a special place here. At the beginning of the year, the Energy Information Agency expected that gas exports from the United States would double in 2021. 69 However, the energy crisis and falling demand for energy are likely to worsen this forecast. Since 2018, the growth of LNG exports from the United States has been mainly due to new gas liquefaction facilities. As a result, the United States ranked third in the world in terms of LNG exports. 70 Although exports of LNG and natural gas somewhat weakened in 2020 as a response to declining global production, it is already clear that economic recovery will take place under the auspices of cleaner fuels. Thus, the demand for natural gas and LNG will grow along with the demand for renewable energy sources. Due to the forced delay in foreign funding caused by COVID-19, LNG supplies until 2025 will be determined by extraction from projects currently in operation or under construction. The gradual commissioning of new capacity should balance supply and demand, and therefore would mean more stable prices over the next 3 or 4 years. International experts predict that under the baseline scenario, the demand for LNG will increase to 475 million tons in 2025. The supply of projects in operation and under construction will be about 465 million tons. So from the planned projects will be enough to get only 10 million tons, equal to 5% of the capacity promised by foreign investment in 2020. Under the minimum scenario, demand in 2025 can be covered by the capacity that existed in August 2020. An additional 85 million tons will be needed at the highest demand, i.e., 45% of the capacity to which investments were directed in 2020. 71 China, South Asia, and Southeast Asia are expected to be the primary sources of demand growth.72 The formation of new markets and the use of LNG for transport will significantly contribute to demand growth.
  • 38.
    LNG import The geopoliticalcomponent of their competition intensifies gas races between the various countries of the Asia-Pacific region. As US global influence diminishes and regionalism grows in international relations, Southeast Asia is gradually becoming a new epicenter of geostrategic competition. On the one hand, there is a competition among regional states that are still looking for their place, and on the other hand, there is a competition between the global players: Russia, China, India, USA, Great Britain, France, etc. Scientific and technological progress and the transformation of the world economy, which bring financial technologies and geo-energy to the fore, are exacerbating the struggle for global logistics chains and maritime communications. The Indian Ocean is home to critical maritime communications and logistics hubs through which liquefied gas and oil enter the market. Thus, the Indian Ocean can be seen as one of the main battlefields for the world’s dominance for decades to come. South Korea and Japan find themselves in a situation where China is actively expanding its influence in the region, and the United States is reluctant to support traditional alliances. This forces Tokyo and Seoul to look for their places in the regional order, maneuvering between Washington’s new policies and Beijing’s growing political influence. The vacuum created by the declining presence of the United States in Southeast Asia is forcing many countries to compete. In 2019-2020, relations between South Korea and Japan deteriorated, one of the reasons being the control over energy supply channels. The crisis of global leadership has also affected the positions of Indonesia and Malaysia. Both countries are uncertain of their future foreign policy. They are forced to balance between the United States, which intends to rely on them, leaving the region to its allies Japan and South Korea, and China, which continues its investment activities through numerous multimillion-dollar projects under the global Belts and Roads Initiative. Indonesia’s geopolitical rupture was evident during last year’s fateful general election, when President Joko Widodo, after being elected, was forced to share power with his main rival, Prabowo Subianto, appointing him Minister of Defence to maintain a balance of power between pro-Chinese and pro-American forces. In Malaysia, a similar “house of cards” faltered in early 2020, when Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad abruptly resigned and failed to secure the transfer of power to his ally, Anwar Ibrahim. Therefore, the future of the political configuration in Kuala Lumpur remains unclear. Australia is also experiencing its own regional crisis. The United States is getting shut within its internal problems, unwilling to devote many resources to supporting its extensive network in Asia. Politicalandeconomic struggleintheLNGmarkets
  • 39.
    So Australians feelthat they need to take the lead in the region, at least at the level of the “Five Eyes” countries (the USA, Canada, Australia, Great Britain, and New Zealand). The country is also divided between the need to address domestic issues left after the 2018-2019 political crisis and engaging in competition between the United States and China. The western part of Asia, the Middle East, is characterized by its own confrontation, which significantly impacts energy relations in the region. The first is the conflict between the Gulf monarchies, which has been going on since 2017, when Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Bahrain, and Kuwait imposed a total blockade on Qatar and severed ties with the emirate accusing it of financing terrorism. The Gulf monarchies are actively preparing for a post-American order, when the United States, which no longer has such an enormous need for Middle Eastern oil, will gradually reduce its presence in the region. This forces local countries to rearm and intensify competition between them for strategic resources and alliances. The situation is complicated by the recent discovery in the UAE of vast natural gas deposits, which in total can make up to 80 trillion m3 . 73 Secondly, there is the confrontation over gas deposits on the Cypriot shelf in the Eastern Mediterranean, which has involved Turkey, Israel, Cyprus, Egypt, Italy, France, Greece, Lebanon, and Libya. Together with the Black Sea Basin, the Eastern Mediterranean forms one of the world’s most potent logistics hubs, a place where trade routes are enriched by dozens of languages, religions, and ideologies intersect. To this day, much of the world’s trade between West and East is through international maritime arteries in the Eastern Mediterranean, and access to the Black Sea opens up additional markets by connecting North and South. Today, this region is part of the southern zone of the European Union’s influence and therefore occupies an important place in its foreign policy. The Eastern Mediterranean (or the Levantine Sea), with its energy resources, logistics, and geostrategic value, is the object of geopolitical confrontation between several blocks of states, both regional and global. The prize for control over this region is enormous. Those who control the Levantine Sea dominate major oil and gas routes from the Middle East to Europe, including the Suez Canal, the Red Sea, the coast of Cyprus, and the straits of Bosphorus and Dardanelles. The importance of this region for the world has increased sharply due to recent changes in the international system and the gradual drift of world politics towards “realpolitik”: a narrow egocentric interpretation of national interests, as well as the intensification of the struggle for strategic resources, including the old resource bases such as gas, oil, and coal. 
  • 40.
    LNG import European Unionis the second world’s largest natural gas consumer, after the USA 74 . At the same time, the EU is highly dependent on gas imports and is actively decreasing domestic gas production. EuropeanLNGmarketatthe turnof2020 Graph 8. Dynamics of LNG share in EU natural gas imports and total gas consumption 75 Graph 9. Dynamics of EU natural gas imports in terms of supply sources 76
  • 41.
    For the mostenergy-dependent European countries, LNG infrastructure was mainly an instrument to guarantee market competitiveness and a way to prevent the monopoly of specific large suppliers, like Russia. Consequently, LNG infrastructure was also a tool to mitigate price increases caused by those dominant suppliers (this is evidenced in particular by the level of utilization rates of the EU, which was at the level of 25-30%). In some cases, the low bandwidth capacity of interconnectors with gas transmitting systems of neighboring countries, like Spain, made LNG the primary source of gas supply. Hence, as of 2019, 36 LNG terminals were operating in the EU, and 27 more were either planned or under construction. Graph 10. Structural dynamics of EU natural gas imports 77 Graph 11. Dynamics of average monthly regasification terminal utilization rates in the EU and in some significant LNG importing countries 78
  • 42.
    LNG import Graph 12.Operating and planned LNG terminals in EU as of 2019 79 By the end of 2018 and during 2019, the total volume of LNG increased. For instance, in 2019, EU imported 108 billion m3 of LNG, which was 75% more of what was imported previous year. This was primarily due to the following factors. Firstly, in early 2019, Asian market saw a decrease in gas demand, so the region became less appealing to exporters.
  • 43.
    Graph 13. Changein the structure and volume of LNG supply to the EU in 2018-2019 82 The LNG suppliers turned towards Europe, where the price conjuncture for gas remained stable. Secondly, the important factor for the growth of LNG volumes was that the EU expected the transit negotiations between Ukraine and Russia to fail, which would mean a temporary interruption of gas transit through Ukraine. Therefore, European countries utilized all the possible gas supply routes to fill their own gas storages and prepare for the upcoming gas crisis in 2019-2020. Between mid-2018 and November 2021, LNG exports from the US to the EU increased by almost seven times; from the beginning of 2018 till November 2021, 33% of LNG exports from the United States went to the EU only 81 . Therefore, besides the two reasons for the LNG volume increase described above, it is crucial to highlight political motives. With some EU forces promoting the completion of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline (especially Germany), the increase in gas imports from the United States seems like an attempt to make the US more loyal to the project and prevent further sanctions against the pipeline. However, in some cases, the growth of the LNG industry in the EU was due to the fundamental intentions of abandoning Russia as a gas source. This was the case for Poland and Lithuania 83 . Poland has, in fact, made a political decision to give up Russian gas. In Lithuania, this was due to the diversification efforts, and since 2019, the country received LNG supplies from Russia based solely on financial grounds. Today, the leading importers of LNG in Europe are Spain, France, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
  • 44.
    LNG import Graph 14.Dynamics of LNG import by EU countries 84 The traditional LNG suppliers to the EU are Qatar, Nigeria, and Algeria. American and Russian LNG supplies also grew together with the increasing importance of LNG in Europe since 2019. Russian LNG has a relative advantage in terms of a short logistic route. According to the International Gas Union, because of the logistics and development of LNG projects (Yamal, Arctic LNG, Baltika), Russia would continue to strengthen its presence in Europe 85 . European LNG market during COVID-19 pandemic and its post-pandemic future The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a partial reduction in energy demand and prices and has therefore jeopardized the LNG trade sector, which has grown steadily over the past six years. As a result of the pandemic and quarantine restrictions globally, there has been a decline in energy demand and prices. The European market was not an exception. The decline in gas demand in the first half of 2020 was about 8%, but the LNG trade sector itself did not suffer significant losses during this period 86 . Regasification capacity utilization in Europe remained high, and during some months of 2019 (in Lithuania and Poland), even broke records. This could have been due to the winter preparations and stocks accumulation in gas storage facilities, which in 2020 showed a record load for the past ten years. Such load hence established a more attractive price for suppliers to the European market compared to the Asian. This has become one of the factors for replacing pipeline gas with LNG. In particular, LNG supplies from the United States replaced part of the pipeline supply from Russia. However, Russian companies have also managed to increase LNG supplies to Europe, almost entirely compensating for the decline in pipeline supplies.
  • 45.
    Graph 15. Dynamicsof natural gas supplies to Europe for six months in 2019-2020 87 Graph 16. Dynamics of LNG intake in European gas networks 88 However, at the end of the summer, there was an increase in gas prices in Asia, and then supplies reorientated back towards Asia, so the supplies to Europe declined. In addition, as of August 2020, European gas storage facilities were filled by 90% 89 , which also helped reduce the demand for LNG supplies.
  • 46.
    LNG import Graph 17.Dynamics of LNG prices in September and October 2020, USD/MMBtu 90 Graph 18. Historical dynamics and forecasts of profitability of LNG trading operations 91 The recovery of natural gas prices will help restore the financial position of market players and return to their expected profitability in 2021.
  • 47.
    Figure 19. Forecastsof natural gas demand recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic 94 At the same time, the crisis has hit new investments in the LNG sector. Thus, the restoration of investment attractiveness of the sector will lag far behind the recovery of natural gas prices. 92 In addition, the impact of the pandemic on the LNG market will not be the same. Producers and sellers will suffer the most, while the impact on importers will be much smaller. Oversaturation of the market will delay the construction of new capacities, but with the restoration of demand, consumers will immediately return to importing the resource. At the same time, governments would likely have to intervene to support and stimulate the construction of new LNG facilities, as the sector would be able to recover only in 3-5 years fully.93 Billion cubic meters Enduring pandemic Single-wave pandemic Multi-wave pandemic
  • 48.
    LNG import LNG makesit easy to supply gas through virtual pipelines or in the form of regular shipments via roads, trains, or canal barges; hence, the development of LNG trade increases the number of supply options. Accordingly, LNG helps to increase competition and reduce the possibility for key regional suppliers to abuse their monopoly position. Gas suppliers use virtual pipelines to expand their markets in areas that are either uneconomical or too inaccessible to the pipeline. For example, in Argentina, Galileo Technologies, rather than building expensive pipelines or use government subsidies, uses Cryobox-Trailers to distribute LNG to customers in remote areas across the country. Virtual pipelines operate in Australia, Canada, China, Europe, and the United States and are studied in South Africa, Nigeria and Mozambique. Thanks to the flexibility of LNG transportation, the Polish LNG PGNiG terminal in the Baltic Sea, Swinoujscie LNG in 2016 provided consumers outside the national network with gas by nearly 4,000 truck trips.95 Flexible in transportation, liquefied gas can become one of the tools to ensure Ukraine’s energy security. The ability to transport gas in liquid form by tankers or freight within the country opens up many new opportunities for Ukraine. With the LNG project, Ukraine will be able to diversify its suppliers and become less dependent on a single source of natural gas. Poland and Lithuania followed a similar logic when they decided on building LNG terminals.96 They put the interests of their security forth, understanding their geopolitical circumstances. In the context of diversifying energy supply routes, Ukraine would also benefit from joining the Three Seas Initiative (3SI), a European Union infrastructure project that brings together 12 countries around the Baltic, Black, and Adriatic Seas.97 One of the two main projects funded by the Three Seas Investment Fund is the connection of the LNG pipeline with the sea terminals of Poland and Croatia. By joining the Initiative, Ukraine would not only be able to lobby its interests in LNG but also gain access to new waterways, such as the E-40, which connects the Baltic and Black Seas via river arteries. TherationaleofLNGdevelopment inUkraine Energy security
  • 49.
    Global gas pricesfluctuations as a key to the commercial viability of the LNG project With the development of the global spot market for natural gas, construction of the new pipelines is becoming more of either a political or a geopolitical lever, as their profitability decreases every year. Today, spot deliveries to terminals or transshipment points are more competitive than contracted natural gas deliveries with fixed prices. Therefore, in the new decade, the projects of terminals with subsequent regasification of the resource with high liquidity will draw the most attention. Namely, these will be terrestrial liquefied gas terminals with storage and regasification systems, as well as FSRU. Due to the mild winter and increasing supplies from the United States, 2020 began with low gas prices. During the first weeks, Asian spot prices fluctuated at $5.15 per MMBtu 98 , while TTF contract prices fluctuated at $3.85 per MMBtu. Although prices have been at record lows for the past decade, after China announced closing its borders, gas prices have fallen even lower. So at the end of February, the price fluctuated at the level of $2.70 per MMBtu. A few weeks later, when other countries felt the effects of the pandemic, the price dropped even lower and in May reached its historic low – $1.90 per MMBtu on JKM and $1.31 per MMBtu on TTF. 99 Prices continued to fluctuate low until August. By the end of the summer, the quarantine restrictions eased, so the price gradually grew. In August 2020, the prices of the TTF contract returned to the same level they were at the beginning of the year. Even at the American Henry Hub, between June and October, prices more than doubled. By the end of 2020, the natural gas price on TTF has risen to almost $7 per MMBtu, and on JKM, it reached a record $20 per MMBtu. 100 This spike is associated not only with recovery but also with abnormally cold winters in Asia and Europe. For instance, the temperature in Beijing fell 4 degrees lower than usual, reaching -10 degrees Celsius, which is the lowest figure in 55 years.101 In addition, ice and strong winds hampered LNG deliveries, further raising prices. On January 12, 2021, JKM reached $32,494 per MMBtu.102 Although Europe is also experiencing colder winter than usual, thanks to gas pipelines from Russia and Scandinavia, the price of the TTF contract did not experience hikes like on JKM. However, cold weather still raised the price to a three-year record – $7.8 per MMBtu.103 Graph 20. Dynamics of LNG price on JKM spot 104
  • 50.
    LNG import Global LNGproduction is projected to increase from 362 million tons in 2020 to 381 million tons in 2021 (+5%). 105 The most significant increases will occur in the United States, Australia, Egypt, and other countries due to low prices reduced production during 2020. Even if demand in Asia remains high, these additional supplies should be sufficient to ensure market balance throughout the year. According to Rystad Energy, this is confirmed by the current substantial lag in the forward price of JKM, which is about $6 per MMBtu for next summer. Asian spot prices are expected to fall to $3.4 per MMBtu during summer and assuming the normal winter grow to $5.3 per MMBtu by the 4th quarter of 2021. 106 Under such circumstances, Ukraine has an appealing opportunity to benefit from the flexibility of spot LNG prices. The International Energy Agency predicts that LNG will become the main driver of gas trade at least until 2025. Total trade volumes will increase by 21% compared to 2019 (before the pandemic). In addition, Europe is expected to continue to be the second- largest importing region, after Asia. 107 This, in turn, will mean even easier and cheaper access of Ukraine to LNG, in addition to the ability to load the transmission system and gas storage. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many countries to impose a lockdown and introduce quarantine restrictions nationwide. These restrictions have led to a decline in production in countries and, consequently, a decrease in demand for fuel production. IHS Markit in early 2020 found that as a result of the pandemic, oil demand would fall by 3.8 million barrels per day for the first three months and even faster afterward. 108 At the same time, the space for oil storage will be reduced. As a result, the price of fuel in March has already fallen by 20% compared to last year. 109 For countries like Saudi Arabia, where oil production is the primary source of income, such a price decrease was catastrophic, and it was critical to reduce production immediately. Although oil production in Venezuela, Libya, and Iran has already dropped due to US sanctions and political instability, their relatively small production decrease has been offset by increased production outside OPEC: the United States, Norway, and Brazil. That is why on March 4, 2020, a meeting of OPEC, Russia, and other oil- producing countries was convened to reduce production. 110 As the unofficial leader of OPEC, Saudi Arabia has insisted on reducing oil production, even though it would reduce the already historically lowest share of OPEC in world oil production – 35%. 111 Russia, which had previously been an ally of Saudi Arabia, insisted that the issue needed further study and was reluctant to reduce production. Russia was aware that it was lowering the price of its own product by abandoning cooperation, but it prioritized a political motive of destroying American oil producers. In addition, since joining the alliance with OPEC in 2017, Russia for three years had been pushing Saudi Arabia to be the world’s largest oil exporter. So, Saudi Arabia would be responsible for taking up the first steps for the inevitable reduction in oil production in the face of decarbonization. As for the first time in many years, American exports were seeing rapid growth; hence Russia’s cooperation was vital for Saudi Arabia. On Friday, March 6, 2020, Russia finally refused to cut oil production, provoking Saudi Arabia to start a price war. The next day, Saudi Arabia cut oil export prices by 10%, causing Brent to fall by almost 25% overnight. 112 Although this was not a devastating blow to Russia, it did much damage to its allies, Venezuela and Iran. The United States, Nigeria, Angola, and Brazil were also affected, as a decline in price had severe economic consequences. Even for Saudi Arabia itself, this risky strategy has had negative consequences.
  • 51.
    The only countrythat benefited from lower prices was China, which bought a record amount of oil for storage. One month later, on April 9, 2020, Russia and the OPEC countries agreed to reduce oil production by 10 million barrels per day, which is approximately 23% of their production. 113 Mexico was the only country that refused to cut production. The situation stabilized after the United States offered to cut a third of what Mexico needed. Although the reduction agreement was signed, oil overproduction during the pandemic and the price war between Russia and OPEC have already done a substantial amount of damage for the industry, so on April 20, 2020, for the first time in history, the price of oil fell below zero. However, eventually, the reduced production helped to stabilize the price slowly. Almost a year after the reduction, as of February 2021, the oil price rose to the level of 2017 and now fluctuates at $52.9 per barrel. 114 Natural gas prices usually have a positive correlation (interdependence) with the oil price, as gas is often a companion in oil production, but between 2001 and 2020, the correlation was at the level of 0.26, which indicates a weak dependence between oil and gas prices. Given that fluctuations in oil prices will continue, gas will be an effective substitute for it in the long run. Graph 21. Dynamics of changes in the price of natural gas (Henry Hub) and oil (WTI) 115
  • 52.
    LNG import Growing demandfor LNG under the decarbonization agenda One of the reasons for the increasing LNG trade was the growing demand for natural gas due to the environmental commitments of the primary consumers. International Energy Agency predicts that natural gas will be a key marginal fuel for the global transition to clean energy. 116 Compared to other types of fuels, natural gas is one of the most eco-friendly choices for the transition to clean energy production. To produce 1 MMBtu of energy, natural gas emits only 53.1 kg of CO2 , half of what is emitted by coal. Since 2010 switching from coal to gas helped to prevent nearly 500 million tons of CO2 emissions. Even accounting for all the methane International Energy Agency estimates that 98% of all gas in use today is environmentally safer than coal. Moreover, switching from coal to gas associates with a 50% decrease in emissions for electricity production and more than 30% for heat. 118 Countries that are actively developing sustainable energy resources often face the firming problem. Solar and wind power plants do not have a stable production and change during seasons and on a day/night basis. LNG as a substitute for coal would be able to firm the production from the renewables. Considering the economic recovery in 2021 and 2022, it is clear that there is an approaching large-scale green stimulus policy, which promises to impact demand and trade in natural gas and LNG significantly. The leading countries worldwide have already made critical decisions that promise to change the investment portfolios in the energy sector. For instance, the Biden administration made the USA rejoin the Paris accord and expects to transit to renewable power generation by 2035. In Europe, under the Green Deal umbrella, countries pledged to decarbonize their economies by 2050. To do so, the EU plans a massive addition of renewables, an increase in energy efficiency, and by 2030 a development of green hydrogen technology. 119 Japan and South Korea are to phase out coal by 2030 and reach carbon neutrality by 2050. China plans to do the same by 2060. 120 India also agreed to reduce its carbon footprint by increasing non-fossil fuel production by 40% by 2030. 121 Graph 22. CO2 emissions from different fuels 117
  • 53.
    Graph 23. Comparisonof carbon pollution using liquefied and pipeline natural gas, as well as coal 122 The US will have the greatest medium-term impact on demand for natural gas from decarbonization, as EU plans already reflect ambitious climate policies and reductions in harmful production, and mass coal use in Asia requires significant growth in gas and renewable energy. At the same time, the introduction of LNG supplies is not a panacea for harmful emissions. Natural gas liquefaction procedures and gas transportation are rather energy- intensive processes, accompanied by emissions of pollutants, including greenhouse gases. As can be seen from the graph, LNG is not better than conventional natural gas in terms of emissions. However, given many advantages in terms of flexibility and storage life, LNG can and should be considered a marginal electricity and heat production source that is more environmentally friendly than coal. In addition, as the fight against global warming intensifies, more countries are working on tracking and minimizing the carbon footprint in LNG trade. Recently, the first long-term ten-year contract for the supply of LNG was signed, which provides for the monitoring of pollution in supply between Singapore and Qatar. 123 At present, it is only a matter of monitoring pollution, and not, for example, paying for measures to prevent it. However, pollution in the process of LNG transportation may receive even more attention in the future.
  • 54.
    LNG import At thesame time, the practice of supplying LNG with carbon footprint compensation is beginning. For the first time, the French company Total delivered to China “carbon- free” LNG. 124 The amount of carbon pollution caused by this supply was offset by the purchase of CO2 emission certificates from a forest restoration project in Brazil, which is an accomplice of China. Demand for natural gas in Europe is likely to decline after 2030 due to the announced decarbonization policy implementation, notably the Green Deal of 2019 and the Hydrogen Strategy approved in 2020. Nevertheless, greening trends can become an incentive for the development of LNG infrastructure. This will be the case if convenient and affordable technologies are developed to transport liquefied hydrogen, which is expected to be a key element in achieving Europe’s carbon neutrality target by 2050, as well as for other major developed countries that have stated the same intentions – Japan, South Korea, and China.
  • 55.
    Nowadays, Ukraine hasaccess to LNG via the infrastructure of the neighboring countries, such as Lithuania or Poland. In fact, Ukraine has already imported some of LNG via the Polish terminal. In developing its own LNG terminal, Ukraine (terrestrial or floating platform) faced the problem of obtaining permits for tankers to path through the Bosphorus strait and the relevant approvals from Turkey. Therefore, the successful implementation of such a project is possible only through an alliance directly with Turkey or important strategic partners of this country, which are also important players in the natural gas market – Qatar and Azerbaijan. Keymarketplayers thatdetermine Ukraine'saccess toLNGmarkets USA Imports from the United States through Poland are one of the primary, realistic scenarios that require the cooperation of three parties. On August 31, 2019, Washington, Warsaw, and Kyiv signed an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in questions of natural gas supply. The terms of the agreement were supposed to promote reform of the Ukrainian gas market, increase resource imports from Poland, and increase US exports. Already on September 9, 2019, Ukrtatnafta purchased more than 6 million tons of liquefied gas from the American company Enterprise Products Partners. It was envisaged that the final agreements would include a long-term contract for the supply of LNG from the United States to Ukraine, gas storage in Ukraine’s underground storage facilities, as well as construction and exploitation of the necessary infrastructure between Poland and Ukraine. Under these agreements, the United States planned to supply the Ukrainian hub through Polish terminals with up to 6-8 billion m3 of LNG annually to further transport gas to European countries. On May 27, 2020, the Government of Ukraine approved a memorandum of cooperation with the American company Louisiana Natural Gas Exports on the supply of 5.5 billion m3 annually. However, in September 2020, the American company abandoned the cooperation with Ukraine. Therefore, the project was suspended until a new supplier is selected.
  • 56.
    LNG import Poland The PolishLNG terminal started operating in July 2016. The design capacity is 5 billion m3 of gas and is expected to expand the capacity to 7.5. 125 The main purpose of the terminal was to reduce the dependence on supplies from Russia. Before launching the terminal, Poland signed a 20-year gas supply contract with Qatar. Besides, in 2018, Poland signed a 20-year supply contract with the United States. In 2022, the contract for the supply of gas from Russia expires, and Poland has no intentions to prolong the agreement, thus refusing Russian supplies. Poland’s PGNiG has invested in several Norwegian offshore gas fields, and the Polish government sees them as a strategic opportunity to further reduce its strong dependence on Russian gas. 126 The share of gas imports from Russia decreased from 67% in 2018 to 60% in 2019. However, at the same time, the share of LNG imports increased from 20% in 2018 to 23% next year. In 2019, PGNiG imported 3.43 billion m3 of liquefied natural gas to Poland, which is a quarter more than a year earlier. 127 LNG imports from the United States, Qatar, and Norway increased by approximately 0.7 billion m3 (after regasification) in 2018. Imports from Russia in 2019 amounted to 8.95 billion m3 compared to 9.04 billion m3 a year earlier. 128 Such dynamics mark a clear shift towards diversification of natural gas supplies to Polish consumers. In 2016, Russian gas accounted for about 89% of total imports, but supplies from Russia have been steadily declining every year while LNG imports have grown. The total volume of PGNiG gas imports in 2019 reached 14.85 billion m3 , which is 1.32 billion m3 more than in 2018. 129 In 2019, Ukraine signed a memorandum on tripartite cooperation in the energy sector. According to this document, Ukraine will have access to American LNG, which will diversify a significant share of natural gas supplies. By 2021, Poland is expected to be able to supply 6 billion m3 of gas to Ukraine. 130 This will happen after constructing a liquefied gas terminal in Swinoujscie, the modernization of interconnections between the two countries, and the subsequent construction of the Baltic Pipeline, which will connect Poland with Norway. Provided an uninterrupted supply of LNG, Ukraine will be able to develop its gas hub through UGS facilities. Accordingly, the state will achieve energy independence and become the leading guaranteed natural gas supplier, or the so-called buffer, which has a significant natural gas reserve. As early as November 19, 2019, a vessel carrying American liquefied natural gas to Ukraine arrived at the liquefied gas reception and regasification terminal in the Polish port of Swinoujscie. According to media reports, the tanker brought 75 thousand tons of liquefied gas, which was 100 million m3 after regasification. 131 Ukraine has embarked on the path that Poland is already confidently following, abandoning Russian gas and dynamically increasing LNG imports. Between 2016 and 2018, the share of LNG in the structure increased from 8.5% to 20%, respectively. Since the launch of the terminal in Swinoujscie, PGNIG has received 70 batches of LNG with a total volume of 7.5 billion m3 after regasification. 132 In 2018, PGNIG accepted only one gas supply from the United States; by the end of August 2019, this number had increased to six supplies. In the future, to expand cooperation in diversification in the context of ceased natural gas transit through the territory of Ukraine, and to expand the capacity of the Ukrainian gas transmission system the interconnector “Poland-Ukraine” will be constructed. If the Baltic Pipe was completed, it could provide additional volumes of natural gas imports without excessive price increases.
  • 57.
    Poland is alreadybuilding several interconnectors to expand the natural gas market, and by 2025 it plans to build another terminal based on the floating FSRU platform. In the context of climate change and declining demand for natural gas, Ukraine has the opportunity to expand cooperation with Poland in questions of LNG development agreements and reconstruction of gas pipelines in Ukraine to reduce losses to achieve flexibility of the system as a whole. Lithuania Unlike Poland, Lithuania did not produce natural gas and was utterly dependent on Russian supply. In 2014, the country started operating a leased FSRU floating plant in the port of Klaipeda, with a capacity of 4 billion m3 per year and signed a 5-year supply contract with Norway. 133 In 2016, the terminal reached economically justified levels of capacity utilization. In 2018, the volume of transshipment through the terminal doubled. In 2019, the efficient operation of the Klaipeda LNG terminal lowered the price of natural gas for all Lithuanian consumers and created benefits that outweighed the costs of maintaining the terminal. According to the first half of 2019, consumers in Lithuania paid 30% less than the EU average price. 134 Since the operation of the LNG terminal, the price of Russian gas supplies to the country decreased by 50%. 135 Earlier, in 2014, Lithuania paid a 36% higher price for Russian gas than the price on the border with Germany. 136 Lithuania mainly imported Norwegian LNG for domestic consumption, using one-fifth to one-third of the terminal’s annual capacity (2.7 million tons of LNG), but in late 2017, it began diversifying imports with the first US cargo. 137 In 2018, the Klaipeda terminal proved its international importance: Lithuania transported most of its gas through Latvia via a pipeline. In 2020, the European Commission, the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, and the government set a goal to continue operating the LNG terminal after 2024. 138 This decision is based on global analysts’ forecasts of growing demand for natural gas in Europe due to increased energy diversification and the development of clean energy and fuel in the context of global climate change. It is clear that in some industries (for example, maritime, freight and road transport), there are very few environmental alternatives to natural gas, in particular LNG. In fact, natural gas also plays a vital role in the European Green Deal, which aims to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. 139 In 2019, the Polish oil and gas company PGNiG began working on the Klaipeda LNG distribution station, which will promote the development of a small market for LNG supplies in the Baltic States and Poland. As of the beginning of 2021, the Lithuanian LNG import terminal in Klaipeda plans to more than double LNG volumes and turn the Baltic port into a regional supply center. By the end of 2022, Klaipedos Nafta AB will decide whether to purchase a terminal for the import of FSRU from the Norwegian LNG Hoegh. 140
  • 58.
    LNG import Turkey Turkey isone of the key countries, the rise of which was the most striking example of the world system’s reformatting. Under the new world order and the global leadership crisis, Turkey, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has begun to look for ways to adapt to the changing international environment to gain a strong position in the new world arena. To adapt to these changes, a state must find its geoeconomic niche to fill in and develop its influence at the regional and global levels within it. This, in turn, requires significant changes to the existing political system, the creation of a new institutional and ideological base to mobilize supporters and consolidate power, and the development of infrastructure to connect the country’s regions with the new technological base. Thus, Ankara’s long and difficult path to this dream began, eventually bringing Turkey first to the rank of a regional leader and then to the global level of political games through searching for the niche in the global economy. One of such niches was the gas transportation infrastructure. The development was inevitable, as the idea was connected not only with the political desires of the Turkish elites but also with entirely objective and natural tendencies. Today, Turkey plays a central role in the gas projects of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea region. Many of the actions taken by the Turkish authorities to promote the development of gas fields and infrastructure through their territory are dictated by domestic political necessity, the ideology of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and his party. The development of a gas hub is also a promising and ambitious direction in the context of Turkey’s regional policy, pursued by Erdogan’s government. The hub will also allow the country to gain energy leverage over the region and possibly even establish its own terms for natural gas transportation. Building on the gas capacity and creating a hub is entirely in line with Erdogan’s neo- Ottoman revisionist regional policy, which has been pursued for at least the past three years. The politics aims to restore Turkey’s former power and influence over its “near abroad” – the countries that were once part of the Ottoman Empire. During 2016-2020, Turkey conducted three military interventions in northern Syria and managed to create its own puppet enclaves within the occupied territories to pressure the central government in Damascus. Meanwhile, in neighboring Iraq, Turkey has established close contacts with local Kurds to ensure uninterrupted oil supplies from the Kirkuk area. In 2017, official Ankara strengthened its alliance with the gas emirate of Qatar, which allowed Turkish troops to deploy military bases on the emirate’s territory. These actions have allowed Turkey to become one of the participants in the Ankara- Tehran-Moscow geopolitical triangle in the Levant region. In addition, the Turkish authorities are actively involved in the processes related to the militarization of the Red Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean, where massive, currently undiscovered deposits of gas and oil may be located. For President Erdogan, creating a gas hub in Turkey is a mandatory part of the plan. It is a necessity that will restore the “greatness and dignity” of the country and restore its respect for itself and others – something that Turkey, according to presidential supporters, has lost after the World War I. Accordingly, Islamist nationalism with a neo-Ottoman face, which became the basis of Erdogan’s party ideology, has become a driver of the Turkish government’s ambitious mega-projects to build gas infrastructure in the region, connecting Iran, Pakistan,
  • 59.
    Azerbaijan, and CentralAsia through Europe. The future of the gas supply map in the Black Sea basin and the Eastern Mediterranean depends on how long these ideas persist in Ankara and whether they will be shared by other political forces that may come after Erdogan. With control over the Bosphorus, which connects the Black and Mediterranean Seas, Turkey is now the leader and the only player with a significant impact on the region’s natural gas supply market. The country has several terminals and transshipments for receiving natural gas tankers, the main ones being EgeGaz Aliağa, Botaş Dörtyol, and Marmara Ereğlisi. Due to the increase in supplies and significant governmental interest, Turkey is actively developing gas infrastructure, which in the future will become a full- fledged hub of natural gas. In particular, cooperation with Turkey by promoting its intentions to gain a foothold in regional gas markets can contribute to greater commitment to Ukraine and ensure the passage of liquefied natural gas vessels through the Bosphorus. At the same time, this may require the assistance of critical geopolitical players or partners of Turkey listed above. The deployment of the LNG platform in the Black Sea may later be part of the increase in gas trade with Ukraine. This option will be particularly interesting under the possible construction of a regasification plant in Georgia, which is still under discussion, or in other countries. In the short term, the option for cooperation may be to give Turkish companies access to use Ukrainian UGS facilities. The problem of shortage of underground gas storage facilities for Turkey is a critical one, and the solution requires significant investments. For example, the project of UGS capacity increase from 4 to 9.7 billion m3 would cost nearly $2.735 billion (co-financed by the World Bank and other development banks). 141 At the same time, more than 30 billion m3 of Ukraine’s gas storage facilities could be useful for Turkey’s plans to consolidate in the regional gas market. The success of such cooperation will ensure the use of domestic gas transportation infrastructure and provide an opportunity to gain time for the implementation of medium- and long-term strategies. Qatar Qatar is an important political ally of Turkey. The small gas emirate has always been at the center of regional confrontation between various players in the Persian Gulf. Huge gas reserves and a dominant position in the market allowed it to pursue a relatively independent foreign policy. Many countries are not fond of this; they would have preferred to control Qatar and its resources, as well as an incredibly powerful media weapon, the international television channel Al-Jazeera. The culmination of the conflict between the Gulf Arab monarchies was the diplomatic confrontation of 2017, when Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the UAE severed ties with Qatar and imposed a total land, sea, and air blockade against it. Qatar has managed not only to successfully withstand the blockade and pressure but also to overcome the negative economic consequences, including maintaining its position in the natural gas market. Firstly, the countries did not risk blocking Qatari gas supplies to the market.
  • 60.
    LNG import Secondly, Iranand Turkey have provided substantial support to Qatar, allowing Qatari aircraft to use their airspace to bypass Saudi Arabia and the Emirates. Thirdly, Turkey deployed its military base in Qatar and began to play as a deterrent to prevent other states from organizing a coup in Doha. The situation in 2017 gave birth to a new strategic geopolitical alliance between Qatar and Turkey, which, although existed before, got significantly stronger. Thanks to it, both countries maintained their positions in the region and gained opportunities to compete with neighbors. With Qatar's gas capacity and Turkey's transport and logistics capabilities, the alliance has become one of the world's dominant gas markets. For Ukraine, this means that all issues related to the prospects of importing Qatari liquefied gas directly depend on Turkey's readiness and desire to open the Bosphorus strait. Conversely, any issues related to obtaining Turkish permit to import liquefied natural gas through the Bosphorus were often included in the package with the agreement to import Qatari gas. Today, Qatar still holds a leading position in the gas market. However, this situation will likely change in the long run, given the recent discovery of new gas deposits on the shelves of Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, the Red Sea, and the United Arab Emirates. This means that the struggle for the gas market will intensify in the medium term, as will competition between the Qatari-Turkish alliance and other countries, including the already established Israeli-Egyptian-Cypriot energy union. In the LNG market today, Qatar is among the undisputed leaders. On February 8, 2021, Qatar signed an agreement to establish the North Field East Project, the world's largest LNG project, which is projected to increase Qatar's LNG production from 77 to 110 million tons per year. The project will start operating in the 4th quarter of 2025. It will consist of 4 LNG trains with a capacity of 8 million tons per year each, gas purification plants, gas conversion into liquids, and helium processing infrastructure. In addition, production will be accompanied by carbon capture systems so that the project will have a minimum carbon footprint. From 2027, Qatar expects to increase production to 126 million tons per year due to the commissioning of the second phase of the project. 142 Ukraine's search for an alliance with Qatar could change Turkey's position on allowing LNG tankers to pass through the Bosphorus. One of the options for such cooperation could be a contract to import Qatari gas. However, a certain obstacle is that the Turkish-Qatari alliance has a clear regional orientation against the Saudi-Emirati-Israeli bloc, which is supported by the United States and some EU countries.
  • 61.
    Azerbaijan Turkey's relations withAzerbaijan, another promising and powerful exporter of natural gas, are developing no less successfully. Unlike Qatar, the relations between Turks and Azerbaijanis are not based on religion or a common vision of the role of Islam in politics but a common historical and ethnic heritage. Former President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev even once called Turkey and Azerbaijan "one nation with two states" and himself a "faithful soldier of Turkey." Historically, gas has played an important role in the country's energy supply, often the most widely used source of energy supply. However, the export of the resource during some periods was complicated because of infrastructural and geopolitical reasons. Being trapped by two major gas suppliers, Iran and Russia, Azerbaijan's chances to join regional markets were vague. Among all neighboring countries, Turkey was the one interested the most, as it needed to diversify supplies and strengthen its position as a future transit country. In addition, the rapid development of bilateral relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan has contributed to the promotion of joint energy projects. For Turkey, Azerbaijan has become one of the key elements of their plan to establish a regional gas transportation hub and create a link between Ankara and Tehran. In Azerbaijan, Turkish support was seen as a great opportunity to diversify Russia’s political influence, link countries from Europe to South Asia, and promote its standing in regional affairs through increased energy power. Russia is also extremely interested in Turkish-Azerbaijani projects and does not want to lose control over Caucasian affairs. Moscow does not benefit from Azerbaijan strengthening at the regional level, granting Baku some degree of independence from the Russian position in the conflict with Armenia. For the Kremlin, such a scenario – a more powerful, independent, and influential Azerbaijan in close alliance with Turkey – would mean a revival of Ankara's influence in the Caucasus and the loss of Russian control over the political process in the Caucasus. Therefore, Russia has pushed for the settlement of the international legal status of the Caspian Sea, having made important concessions on security issues, in particular, a ban on entering the Caspian Sea for third-party warships. Azerbaijan has great potential for close cooperation with Ukraine on oil, natural gas, and oil products. One of the important areas of achieving security of supply and storage of energy resources is the construction of gas filling stations and modern oil depots in Ukraine. Ukrainian involvement in the Southern Gas Corridor project is equally important. It would provide an opportunity to obtain Azerbaijani natural gas in implementing the 2nd and 3rd phases of the project, based on agreements to purchase natural gas and its transmission through Komotini Stara Zagora or Trans-Balkan pipeline. 143
  • 62.
    LNG import Croatia On January1, 2021, a new floating terminal near the island of Krk in Croatia was put into operation with a total capacity of 2.6 billion m3 per year. The total investment for the construction of the terminal was € 233.6 million, of which 100 million came from the state budget of Croatia, 101.4 million – from the Connecting Europe Facility Fund, and another 32.2 million – from the shareholders of the operator of the terminal. 144 The basis of the floating terminal is the regasifying vessel LNG Croatia, converted from the former gas carrier Golar Viking. Being built in 2005, the ship was retrofitted in 2020 at shipyards in China and Croatia. The first batch of LNG was brought to the new terminal by the tanker Tristar Ruby from the American plant in Cove Point.145 The new project is strategically important for the security of domestic gas supply, which is one of the main goals of the Croatian government. Consuming only 2.9 billion m3 of gas per year, Croatia received almost all of this volume from Gazprom (2.821 billion m3 ). 146 Now that, together with domestic production, the total supply exceeds the needs of the Croatian market, Croatia will be able to use the surplus for gas exports to Hungary or Ukraine. Thus, the management of TSO Ukraine has already announced that together with the Hungarian GTS operator, they are working to create facilities for transporting gas from the Croatian terminal to Ukraine.147
  • 64.
  • 65.
    Assessment of theeconomic feasibility of creating an infrastructure for LNG reception in Ukraine provides a forecast of relevant costs and a comparison of the price of gas delivery with options for delivery by pipeline. The basic option for such a comparison is to use a floating regasification platform as the cheapest and intermediate option for creating an infrastructure for LNG reception. Costsestimationforthecreation anduseofFSRU FSRU vessel production and lease market In recent years, there has been a reduction in the number of regasification vessels in production. However, the biggest change in the industry is that new vessels are now built by energy companies, not leasing companies. 148 In addition, more and more terminals and countries, such as Lithuania, are considering the purchase of chartered vessels. This transition from leasing to ownership creates an excess supply of vessels in the leasing company. The FSRU can be either newly built or converted from an existing LNG tanker. Currently, the cost of the FSRU vessel of 6 million tons per year (with storage of 173,000 m3 ) is about $240-280 million. The price for the new ships has been recently declining due to the high degree of competition between the three main Korean shipyards – DSME, Hyundai, and Samsung. 149 Table 3. Characteristics of individual FSRU projects that have been introduced in recent years 150
  • 66.
    LNG import Infrastructure costto service the FSRU The coastal infrastructure includes a berth for mooring the vessel, transferring LNG from the tanker, and the pipeline systems required to connect the gas transmission system. This infrastructure is usually built by a port or energy company and costs between $50 million and $100 million, but the price can be much higher. For example, in Lithuania, the price was almost twice as high due to the complexity of laying the gas pipeline. Offshore pipelines cost about $2-3 million per km. 151 Owner costs Typically, they include the costs of the project owner and support team to oversee all aspects of the project, both technically and commercially, from the start of the project to the transfer to the operations department. This category also includes the costs of obtaining permits and concluding contracts. Operating costs FSRU's operating expenses include the following components: staff; head office support; maintenance; insurance; port dues; tugs to supply the tanker with maneuvering; FSRU shelf/shore service vessels; dredging works; financing costs. Sufficient ship and port personnel must be provided to support the installation. The FSRU crew mainly consists of 20-28 people and an additional four ground workers. However, taking into account sick leave and the total turnover, the number of seafarers must be at least three times higher to ensure the operation of the terminal. 152 It is worth noting that the costs also include crew training, which can be quite costly.
  • 67.
    FSRU project implementationschedules Implementation schedules include three main stages: Preliminary discussions and feasibility studies include initial discussions and negotiations between the various stakeholders. Usually, this stage ends with the preparation of a feasibility study. The same stage includes preliminary conceptual design work to ensure technical feasibility. Permission and pre-design to obtain project approval includeі developing the concept, preparing the contracts, obtaining the necessary permits, determining the project budget and work schedules, and negotiating with the necessary permitting authorities. Construction and launch. This phase covers the acquisition of the FSRU and the construction of infrastructures, such as berth and connecting pipelines. These two processes are independent and can be performed in parallel. Schedules can range from 5 months to 2-3 years. The schedule for receiving the FSRU will be highly dependent on the availability of the vessel. Some FSRU terminals are scheduled to close, which means that some of the vessels should be released. If you need to build a new ship, the construction time will be from 25 to 36 months (depending on the load of the shipyard). The conversion of the tanker to FSRU can be done in a shorter period of 18 months but can be reduced to 12 months if the equipment is ordered earlier.154   According to the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies 153 , operating costs are typically estimated at 2.5% of capital investment per year. Assuming an investment of $350 million ($275 million for FSRU + $75 million for infrastructure), these operating costs will be $8.75 million per year, i.e., $24 thousand a day. The actual cost level will depend on the location, configuration, and capacity of the vessel. This cost does not include the consumption of LNG for heat production and electricity for regasification and processing. 01 02 03
  • 68.
    LNG import OptionsandroutesofLNGsupply toUkraine At themoment, Ukraine may be interested in liquefied gas supplies through the terminals of such countries. Poland: (terminal in Swinoujście, after this the terminal in Gdańsk) through interconnections between the countries and additionally, with the development of infrastructure, heavy transport. Delivery route: In the form of natural gas from the terminal (regasification at terminals): Terminals - GTS of Poland - GMS Drozdovichi - GTS of Ukraine (direct or virtual reverse) - Storage/end-user. In the form of LNG from the terminal (filling tanks at terminals): Terminals - heavy transport in Poland and Ukraine - gas stations - LNG transport; Terminals - heavy transport in Poland and Ukraine - regasification plants - gas stations - transport on natural gas; Terminals - heavy transport in Poland and Ukraine - regasification plants - GTS entry points - Storage/end-user. Lithuania: (terminal in Klaipeda), transmission via the GIPL gas pipeline, through Belarus, and additionally, with the development of infrastructure, heavy transport. Delivery route: In the form of natural gas from the terminal (regasification at terminals): Terminal - GTS of Lithuania - GIPL - GTS of Poland - GMS Drozdovichi - GTS of Ukraine (direct or virtual reverse) - Storage/end-user; Terminal - GTS of Lithuania - GTS of Belarus - GTS of Ukraine (direct or virtual reverse) - Storage/end-user (but GTS of Belarus does not work according to European rules - option is given for perspective). 01 01 02 а а В В С
  • 69.
    In the formof LNG from the terminal (filling tanks at terminals): Terminal - heavy transport in Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine - gas stations - transport on LNG; Terminal - heavy transport in Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine - gas stations - transport on LNG; Terminal - heavy transport in Lithuania, Poland/Belarus, Ukraine - regasification plants - gas stations - transport on natural gas; Terminal - heavy transport in Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine - regasification plants - entry points to the GTS - Storage/end-user; Terminal - heavy transport in Lithuania, Poland - regasification units - GTS entry points - Storage/end-consumer. Turkey (in Izmir and on the island of Marmara) via the Trans-Balkan gas pipeline. Delivery route: In the form of natural gas from the terminal (regasification at terminals): Terminals - GTS of Turkey - Trans-Balkan gas pipeline (GTS of Turkey - GTS of Bulgaria - GTS of Romania) - GMS of Ochakiv - GTS of Ukraine (direct or virtual reverse) - Storage/end-consumer To a potential LNG terminal in Ukraine – a stationary or floating regasification platform. This route involves the passage of tankers through the Bosphorus. Notes: GIPL is an interconnector between Poland and Lithuania, with the capacity of 2.41 billion m3 per year. The capacity of the terminal in Сwinoujście is 5 billion m3 per year (7.5 billion m3 per year in 2023 after expansion), the terminal is currently loaded by only 59%, Qatargas has a contract with this terminal for 2.9 billion m3 per years. The capacity of the terminal in Klaipeda is 3.96 billion m3 per year. The capacity of the terminal in Gdansk (at the stage of coordination) is 3.5- 4 billion m3 per year, will be built by 2023. The capacity of the terminal in Izmir is 6 billion m3 per year. The capacity of the terminal in Marmara is 7.9 billion m3 per year. 02 02 01 а B C D E
  • 70.
    LNG import The capacityof the Trans-Balkan gas pipeline at the interstate point "Isakcha1- Orlovka1" on the route Ukraine-Romania is 17.8 million m3 per day (6.3 billion m3 per year), in the opposite direction – 15.8 million m3 per day (5.7 billion m3 per year), as of January 2020. LNG is liquefied natural gas (pure methane, not to be confused with LPG – petroleum gas), stored and delivered at a temperature of -159.2 °С. For industrial and domestic use requires regasification and additional infrastructure. Some of the potential routes Map 5. From Port Arthur (USA) to the future Ukrainian LNG Terminal
  • 71.
    Map 6. FromDoha (Qatar) to the future Ukrainian LNG Terminal
  • 72.
    LNG import Map 7.From Port Arthur (USA) to Swinoujscie Terminal (Poland)
  • 73.
    Map 8. FromDoha (Qatar) to Swinoujscie Terminal (Poland)
  • 74.
    LNG import Map 9.From Port Arthur (USA) to Klaipeda Terminal (Lithuania)
  • 75.
    Map 10. FromDoha (Qatar) to Klaipeda Terminal (Lithuania) 
  • 76.
    LNG import Some ofLNG terminals construction cases Klaipeda. Lithuania Construction history: In 2012, Lithuania finally decided to build an LNG terminal. Before that, Russia was the country's only gas supplier and worked under long-term contracts that threatened the country's energy security. In 2014, the terminal was put into operation, which significantly improved the quality of the local gas market and reduced the price of gas in the country. Today, the terminal is wholly owned by the state-owned company Klaipėdos Nafta. Structure: The terminal is located in the port of Klaipeda and consists of a leased FSRU, a 450 m long pier, and an 18 km long gas pipeline (Amber Grid) connecting the terminal with the gas metering station. Graph 24. Lithuanian LNG terminal scheme 155
  • 77.
    The FSRU Independencewas built by Korean shipyards Hyundai Heavy Industries, which cost $123 million when the terminal was built. In total, the vessel is 294 m long and 46 m wide. The total volume of the vessel is 170 thousand m3 . Klaipėdos Nafta owns the vessel. The company leased the FSRU for ten years at Norwegian Höegh LNG. 156 Construction cost 157 : In total, the infrastructure of the project cost Lithuania €131 million, excluding the lease of the vessel: €64.87 million – planning and obtaining the necessary permits; €40.7 million – connection of the terminal to the gas metering station; €25.6 million – construction of the pier. In addition to the above costs, Klaipėdos Nafta leases FSRU for $189 thousand a day. Also, the development of the infrastructure of the terminal cost Lithuania almost €50 million. Operating costs for the maintenance of the terminal remain a trade secret and are not disclosed. The terminal project was supported mainly by international financial institutions. The total loan amount before the construction of the terminal was €116 million. The main funding sources were the European Investment Bank, which provided a loan of €87 million, and Nordic Investment Bank, which recently provided a loan of €160 million to buy the ship FSRU after the end of the lease in 2024. 158
  • 78.
    LNG import The FSRUvessel, named LNG Croatia, was converted from Golar's former Golar Viking gas carrier. In total, the ship costs almost €160 million. 161 The length and width of the vessel are 280 and 43 m, respectively. 162 The vessel's total volume is 140 thousand m3 and it promises to provide a regasification capacity of 2 million tons per year. 163 Construction cost: The total cost of the project was €233.6 million. Of these, €159.6 million is the value of the FSRU vessel. Groundworks, including a gas pipeline and a pier, cost €60 million. In addition, the appropriation of land cost the project €14 million. The project was funded from three sources. First, the EU has allocated €101.4 million in grants under the Common Interests Project. Secondly, the Croatian government has also allocated a separate grant of €100 million. The rest, €32.2 million, was financed by the private company Plinacro.164 Krk. Croatia Construction history: The idea of the Krk LNG project emerged as a part of the EU Projects of Common Interest initiative. Gas wars between Ukraine and Russia played a special role in shaping the idea of the project. Thus, in 2014, after the transit of gas through Ukraine paused, the EU first announced the construction of an LNG terminal in Croatia, and a year later, this project became a priority for the EU. On January 1, 2021, the terminal was put into operation. Its official owners are the Croatian state-owned company HEB (85%) and the private company Plinacro (15%). 159 Structure: The LNG project consists of an FSRU, a pier, a gas pipeline (Hrvatska Gas) that extends the existing Hungary-Croatia interconnector, and a water connection system. Figure 25. Krk LNG terminal (Croatia) 160
  • 79.
    Aliaga Etki LNG.Turkey Construction history: For several years now, the Turkish energy market has shown rapid growth, and natural gas is one of its main components. Demand for gas in the country is expected to double between 2012 and 2030. The country is still heavily dependent on Russian imports, but the construction of LNG terminals allows it to keep gas prices low. By 2019, four terminals were already operating in Turkey, and the construction of one new terminal and the expansion of two old ones took place. The Aliaga Etki LNG terminal was commissioned in 2016 and became the first floating terminal in Turkey. The terminal is operated by the private company Etki Liman, and the FSRU is owned by Kolin Construction. Structure: The Aliaga Etki LNG terminal consists of an FSRU with a total volume of 145,000 m3 , a 415 m long steel-covered concrete pier, and a gas pipeline connecting the terminal with the Turkish GTS. In 2019, the old Neptune was replaced by the new FSRU Turquoise. The ship costs $230 million. The length of the vessel is 294 m and the width is 46 m. The total volume of the FSRU is 166 thousand m3 and its capacity is 5.7 million tons per year. 166 Construction cost: The project began in 2016 based on the ship Neptune, which cost $290 million. A $230 million Turquoise later replaced it. Other details on the costs of the project are a corporate secret. Graph 26. Aliaga Etki LNG terminal (Turkey) 165
  • 80.
  • 81.
    The overview ofUkrainian gas sector Natural gas accounts for 26.3% of the total primary energy supply and 27.3% of Ukraine's total final energy consumption. Annually Ukraine extracts about 20 billion m3 of natural gas; however, there is much more contained in the country's subsoil. Ukraine's balance reserves of natural gas are estimated at 882.6 billion m3 , which could provide Ukraine with gas for at least 42 years. 167 Thus, the annual production of natural gas in Ukraine is only 2.4% of total reserves, while developed countries annually extract approximately 6% of their reserves. 168 Last year marked a significant change for the national gas production sector. In 2020, Ukraine concluded seven production sharing agreements based on tenders held in 2019. Besides, in 2021 Naftogaz received special permits to operate on the Dolphin gas field (9.5 thousand km2 ), which has total reserves of 286 million tons of fuel, and to expand production from the largest gas field of Ukraine, Yuzivska (7.9 thousand km2 ), to 10-20 billion m3 per year. 169 Despite the significant role of gas in Ukraine's energy sector, the state's gas production is still insufficient and cannot satisfy the increasing demand of a growing economy. Over the past three decades, domestic production has been about 20 billion m3 per year, while the state's consumption has been more than 30 billion m3 of gas per year. Consequently, Ukraine remains dependent on natural gas imports. 170 Over the last five years, Ukraine's gas sector has undergone significant reforms, as Ukraine committed to implementing the EU's Third Energy Package under the Association Agreement. The package requires the state to focus on separating producers from suppliers and create a competitive environment on the gas market with the independent supervisor. Thus, between 2016 and 2020, Ukraine launched a series of reforms: in 2019, it finalized the "unbundling" process and so separated the transit system from Naftogaz; in 2020, it launched the gas market and appointed the National Commission for State Regulation of Energy and Utilities (NKREKP) as an independent supervisor. Also, in the fall of 2020, deputies allowed the Transmission System Operator to join the gas exchange, which helped make the market even more liquid. The gas transportation system of Ukraine and diversification of gas supply sources Ukraine's gas transportation system is one of the largest and most developed globally: almost 38,000 km long, it includes twelve underground gas storage facilities that can store about 30 billion m3 of gas. 171 Possessing these enormous capacities, Ukraine is actively looking for ways to integrate more deeply into Europe's gas transportation system. One of the most promising countries for cooperation is Poland. In particular, Ukraine is interested in building a Poland-Ukraine interconnector, which could help to diversify its gas supply. Following an agreement between the Polish company PGNiG and American companies on the purchase and possible supply of American LNG to Poland, the interconnector could deliver this gas further to Ukraine. Hungary, Romania, Moldova, Slovakia, and Croatia are also essential partners of the Ukrainian GTS. In the short run, the abrupt cessation of Russian gas transit does not yield critical damage for Ukraine. However, it is crucial to recognize that Ukraine, as a country with one of the largest and the most sophisticated gas transportation systems, would suffer enormously in a longer-run perspective.
  • 82.
    LNG import The UkrainianGTS focuses on large volumes of supplies, and their cessation will cost the state hundreds of thousands of dollars. As an exporter to Europe, Russia will not be hurt, as it would replace the Ukrainian route by Turkish Stream and Nord Stream 2. In fact, as of January 1, 2020, gas transit through Ukraine in the Balkan direction (through the Trans-Balkan gas pipeline) is carried out only to cover the needs of Romania and Moldova, meaning that Bulgaria and Turkey no longer receive Russian gas through Ukraine. Thus, the scenario of the Russian transit cessation is a very realistic one. Due to the potentially unstable situation with the transit of Russian gas, Ukraine must look for new ways to supply gas to fill its GTS. Many route options are being considered, from Poland, Lithuania, or other EU countries. However, one of the most effective ways to diversify is to invest in LNG infrastructure and build new land or sea supply routes. Global LNG market overview While Ukraine is hesitating to construct an LNG terminal, liquefied natural gas has become the most dynamic energy resource in the world. Since 2000, the LNG market has grown exponentially. In 2000-2011, the average annual growth was 7.5%, exceeding 300 billion m3 . 172 As of 2019, the global LNG market totaled 483.4 billion m3 . 173 The development of LNG trade has forever changed the State of the natural gas market, effectively merging regional natural gas markets into a global one and intensifying competition. According to the 2019 data, the share of LNG in total natural gas international trade hit its record – 11%. It is expected that by 2035 this share will increase to 18%, replacing domestic production and pipeline gas imports. 174 2019 marked the sixth year in a row of continuous growth of this segment, and it is further set to grow. According to some estimates, by 2040, the demand for LNG may double. 175 Naturally, such growth in the LNG market was accompanied by growing investment in the industry, which lately picked at $50 billion. 176 European LNG market in 2020 The European Union is the second-largest importer of natural gas after the United States. In order to diversify gas supply routes, some countries have begun to import LNG. In 2019, there were 36 LNG terminals in Europe, and 27 were either under construction or planned. 177 Thus, in the same year, the volume of LNG imports reached 109 billion m3 , which is 75% more than the previous year. 178 The key importers of LNG in Europe are Spain, France, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, and Belgium. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a partial reduction in LNG demand, as for all energy resources, but since the end of the summer, both in Europe and Asia, gas prices have begun to rise quickly. To completely recover, the market would take 3 to 5 years. 179 Ukrainian interest in LNG LNG should be a particularly interesting project for Ukraine for three reasons. First, LNG is one of the tools to achieve energy independence. Since LNG can supply gas through virtual pipelines or regular supplies by road, train, or canal barge, the development of LNG trade increases the number of supply options for the state. Accordingly, LNG could help to increase competition and reduce the ability of the leading regional suppliers to abuse their monopoly positions. Second, LNG has clear financial advantages. Due to high market liquidity, it allows to use spot gas deliveries, and therefore receive gas at a better price. Global LNG production is projected to increase from 362 million tons in 2020 to 381 million tons in 2021 (+5%). 180
  • 83.
    Even though theprice difference between February 2020 and 2021 was almost $30 per MMBtu, the market must balance. Thus, Ukraine can benefit immensely from such flexibility of spot prices for LNG. Liquefied gas is expected to be the primary driver of gas trade at least until 2025. Total trade will increase by 21% compared to 2019. 181 Besides, considering 2020’s oil marketer instability, it is evident that if fluctuations of oil prices continue, gas could become an adequate substitute in the long run. Third, natural gas is a marginal fuel in decarbonization. Countries switching to clean electricity, developing solar and wind energy need an additional source to balance seasonal changes, and LNG could be an exceptional firming capacity. Also, natural gas emits at least twice as much carbon dioxide as coal. Even with methane emissions, gas is still more environmentally friendly. Thus, natural gas, particularly LNG, is an ideal marginal fuel that will ensure the transition to a low-carbon future. Key countries determining Ukraine’s access to LNG markets The following countries will be critical for the development of Ukrainian LNG: Poland. Polish LNG terminal started its operation in 2016, and since then, the country continues to increase its LNG imports to replace Russian gas. In 2019, PGNiG imported 3.43 billion m3 of liquefied natural gas to Poland, which is a quarter more than a year earlier. 182 In 2019, Ukraine signed a memorandum on tripartite (Ukraine-Poland-USA) cooperation in the energy sector. According to the document, Ukraine will have access to American LNG, which will allow diversifying a significant share of natural gas supplies. Starting from 2021, Poland was expected to supply 6 billion m3 of gas to Ukraine. 183 In the future, with the cessation of natural gas transit through Ukraine, the construction of an interconnector "Poland-Ukraine," would be a feasible option to expand the capacity of the Ukrainian gas transmission system. If Baltic Pipe was be completed, the interconnector could provide additional natural gas imports without any significant price increase. The USA. On August 31, 2019, Washington, Warsaw, and Kyiv signed an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in natural gas supplies, the terms of which were to promote the reform of the Ukrainian gas market, strengthen raw material imports to Poland and increase US exports. As part of these agreements, the United States planned to supply the Ukrainian hub with 6-8 billion m3 of LNG annually through Polish terminals for further transportation to European countries. Lithuania. Unlike Poland, Lithuania does not have its natural gas production and was thus utterly dependent on the resource's Russian supplies. In 2014, Lithuania started operating a leased floating natural gas plant in the port of Klaipeda. The FSRU had a total capacity of 4 billion m3 per year. 184 In 2019, the efficient operation of the Klaipeda LNG terminal lowered the price of natural gas for all Lithuanian consumers and created benefits that outweighed the costs of maintaining the terminal. In the first half of 2019, consumers in Lithuania paid 30% less than the EU average. 185 After the LNG terminal operation started, the price of Russian gas supplies to countries decreased by 50%. 186 Earlier, in 2011- 2014, Lithuania was paying a 36% higher price for Russian gas than, for example, the price on the border with Germany. 187 As of the beginning of 2021, the Lithuanian terminal in Klaipeda plans to double its volumes of LNG imports and turn the Baltic port into a regional supply center. 01 02 03
  • 84.
    LNG import Turkey. Withcontrol over the Bosphorus strait, which connects the Black and Mediterranean Seas, Turkey is now a leader and the only player with a significant impact on the region's natural gas supply market. The country has several terminals and transshipments for receiving natural gas tankers, the main ones being EgeGaz Aliağa, Botaş Dörtyol, and Marmara Ereğlisi. Due to increased supplies and significant governmental interest, Turkey is actively developing a gas infrastructure to become a full-fledged natural gas hub. Ukraine can establish cooperation with Turkey by promoting its intentions to gain a foothold in regional gas markets and hence push Turkey to greater commitments and secure the passage of liquefied natural gas vessels through the Bosphorus. Simultaneously, this may require the assistance of critical geopolitical players or Turkey partners, which are listed above. The location of the LNG platform in the Black Sea may later be an element of increasing gas trade in Ukraine. This option will be particularly interesting in the possible construction of a regasification plant in Georgia, which is still under discussion, or in other countries. Qatar. The small emirate not only has enormous oil deposits, but it is also a crucial political ally of Turkey. Thus, with Qatar's gas capacity and Turkey's transport and logistics capabilities, this alliance has become one of the dominant ones in the global gas market. Ukraine's search for the alliance with Qatar could change Turkey's position on allowing LNG tankers to pass through the Bosphorus. One of the ways for such cooperation could be a promise to import Qatari gas. Given that Qatar in 2021 signed an agreement to establish the largest LNG extraction project globally, such cooperation is very promising for Ukraine. Azerbaijan. Ukraine has great potential for cooperation with Azerbaijan, which is a powerful exporter of natural gas. One way to achieve security of supply and storage of energy resources is the construction of gas filling stations and modern oil depots in Ukraine. Equally important is the involvement of Ukraine in the Southern Gas Corridor project. The implementation of the 2nd and 3rd Phases of the project will provide Ukraine with the opportunity to obtain Azerbaijani natural gas, based on agreements on the purchase of natural gas and its transmission through Komotini-Stara Zagora or Trans-Balkan pipeline. Croatia. On January 1, 2021, a new floating terminal near the island of Krk in Croatia was put into operation with a total capacity of 2.6 billion m3 per year. The new project is strategically important for the security of domestic gas supply, which is one of the main goals of the Croatian government. Consuming only 2.9 billion m3 of gas per year, Croatia received almost all of this volume from Gazprom (2.821 billion m3 ). 188 Now that together with domestic production, the total supply exceeds the needs of the Croatian market, the State will be able to use the surplus to export gas to Hungary or Ukraine. 04 05 06 07
  • 85.
    An economic evaluationof LNG project components The primary option for developing LNG in Ukraine is using a floating regasification platform as the cheapest and marginal option for creating an infrastructure for LNG reception. The FSRU can be either rebuilt or converted from an existing LNG tanker. At present, the cost of the FSRU vessel of 6 million tons per year (with storage of 173,000 m3 ) is about $240-280 million. Besides, the cost of infrastructure for maintenance should be taken into account. This infrastructure is usually built by a port or energy company with local contractors and costs typically $50-100 million. However, the price could be much higher if new berths or breakwaters are needed. Offshore pipelines cost about $2-3 million per km. The costs of the owner's team, support service, and all subsequent operating costs should also be considered: port maintenance, insurance, staff salaries, etc. Construction of a new project can take from 2-3 years and mainly depends on the availability of the FSRU vessel.189
  • 86.
    LNG import 1. Ukrstat 2. Ukrstat 3. Association of Gas Producers of Ukraine 4. Data: Naftogaz, Minenergo, Ukrstat: https://bit.ly/3v8coBQ 5. Naftogaz, “Annual report 2019” 6. Ukrstat 7. Ministry of Energy, “The main indicators of the development of the fuel and energy complex”: http:// mpe.kmu.gov.ua/minugol/doccatalog/document?id=245416376 8. Ukrgazvydobuvannya, “Achieving Ukraine's energy independence”: https://bit.ly/3ru4aC1 9. Naftogaz, “In 2019, gas production in Ukraine decreased by 1.4%”: https://bit.ly/3uUBHY8 10. State Service of Geology and Subsoil of Ukraine, “Seven agreements on distribution of hydrocarbon products signed”: https://bit.ly/3bgsVvv 11. State Service of Geology and Subsoil of Ukraine, Order № 627 12. Data: Naftogaz, “Volumes of gas use”: https://bit.ly/3bgtBkx 13. International document dated August 20, 1992, “Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the Russian Federation on natural gas supplies and gas transit through the territory of Ukraine”: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/643_022/conv#Text 14. Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine of June 12, 1996, “On Approval of the Procedure for Repayment of Debt Obligations of Enterprises, Institutions and Organizations for Consumed Natural Gas Supplied from the Russian Federation in 1994”: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/641-96- п#Text 15. Naftogaz, “Naftogaz of Ukraine has signed an agreement for the purchase of natural gas in Turkmenistan for 2005”: https://bit.ly/2ML56CG 16. Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, “Ukraine: Development Prospects. Consensus Forecast ”, Issue 17, 2008, 8 17. International document dated 21.04.2010, “Agreement between Ukraine and the Russian Federation on the stay of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine”: https://zakon. rada.gov.ua/laws/show/643_359#Text 18. Data: Naftogaz, Stockholm Arbitration: https://bit.ly/30dPz1i Links
  • 87.
    19. Naftogaz andTSO Ukraine 20. European Commission, “Third energy package”: https://bit.ly/3enM14Q 21. Naftogaz, “Naftogaz received $ 2.9 billion from Gazprom. - balance by arbitration decision“: https://bit. ly/3rvbopj 22. Naftogaz, “Naftogaz, TSO of Ukraine and Gazprom signed a package of agreements to ensure the transit of Russian gas for the next five years”: https://naftogaz.com/www/3/nakweb.nsf/0/3C11125FB9 AFEA3CC22584E00077E0cu? 23. Naftogaz, “Unbundling of the gas transmission system is fully completed”: https://naftogaz.com/ www/3/nakweb.nsf/0/ADEE0EAA27058E5AC22584E2005BE91B?OpenDocument 24. Chart: Naftogaz: https://gas.ua/uk/home/news/yak-pratsyuie-rinok-gazu-infografika 25. Map: TSO Ukraine: https:// bit.ly/3t8jmoJ 26. Ukratransgaz, “Report for 2017 on the results of monitoring the security of natural gas supply”: https:// bit.ly/30relLz 27. Data: Ukratransgaz 28. Map: Naftogaz, «Annual report 2019»: https://www.naftogaz.com/files/Zvity/Naftogaz_2019_UA.pdf 29. TSO Ukraine: https://bit.ly/3t8jmoJ 30. Ibid. 31. Interruptible capacity: The transmission system operator may interrupt the capacity of the gas transmission network in accordance with the conditions stipulated in the transport contract. 32. TSO Ukraine, «The Ukrainian and Polish TSOs establish single virtual interconnection point “GCP GAZ-SYSTEM/UA TSO”»: https://tsoua.com/news/operatory-gts-ukrayiny-ta-polshhi-stvoryly-yedynu- virtualnu-tochku-vtz-ukrayina-polshha/ 33. TSO Ukraine, «New gas transmission system operator of Ukraine signed an interconnection agreement with Hungarian TSO»: https://tsoua.com/en/news/new-gas-transmission-system-operator-of-ukraine- signed-an-interconnection-agreement-with-hungarian-tso/ 34. TSO Ukraine, «Ukrainian and Romanian GTS operators signed the interconnection agreement and unlocked the Trans-Balkan gas corridor»: https://tsoua.com/en/news/ukrainian-and-romanian-gts- operators-signed-the-interconnection-agreement-and-unlocked-the-trans-balkan-gas-corridor/ 35. TSO Ukraine, «Ukrainian and Moldovan GTS Operators signed an inter-operator agreement»: https:// tsoua.com/news/operatory-gts-ukrayiny-ta-moldovy-pidpysaly-mizhoperatorsku-ugodu/ 36. TSO Ukraine, «Gas transmission system operator of Ukraine signed the interconnection agreements with Gazprom and EUSTREAM»: https://tsoua.com/en/news/gas-transmission-system-operator-of- ukraine-signed-the-interconnection-agreements-with-gazprom-and-eustream/ 37. TSO Ukraine, «Virtual connection point with Slovakia - a tool for dynamic development of the gas market in the region - Olga Belkova»: https://tsoua.com/news/virtualna-tochka-zyednannya-zi- slovachchynoyu-instrument-dynamichnogo-rozvytku-rynku-gazu-v-regioni-olga-byelkova/
  • 88.
    LNG import 38. TSOUkraine: https://bit.ly/3t8jmoJ 39. TurkStream: https://turkstream.info/project/ 40. The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, «The Renewal of Turkey’s Long Term Contracts: Natural gas market transition or ‘business as usual’?»: https://www.oxfordenergy.org/publications/the-renewal- of-turkeys-long-term-contracts-natural-gas-market-transition-or-business-as-usual/ ; Montel, «Turkey ditches Russian gas for LNG»: https://www.montelnews.com/en/story/turkey-ditches-russian-gas-for- lng/1136022 41. IEA «Natural Gas Information: Overview»: https://www.iea.org/reports/natural-gas-information- overview 42. Economichna Pravda, «TSO Ukraine explained how much TurkStream would cost Ukraine»: https://bit. ly/3cnrHhy 43. Interfax-Ukraine, «Naftogaz estimates the price for LNG-terminal construction with 10 bcm capacity would cost $ 2.5 billion»: https://interfax.com.ua/news/economic/52572.html 44. Andrii Vodiyanyi (LB.ua), «LNG-terminal: history of a project»: https://bit.ly/3qzGyuo 45. Ibid. 46. Ibid. 47. Order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine; List dated 05.08.2015, «On the assignment of integral property complexes of state enterprises and institutions to the sphere of management of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade»: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/826-2015-р#Text 48. Order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine; Plan dated 04.03.2015, "On approval of the action plan for the implementation of the Program of Activities of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Sustainable Development Strategy" Ukraine 2020 "in 2015": https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/213- 2015-р#Text 49. Naftogaz, "Naftogaz signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the American company Frontera Resources Corporation": https://www.naftogaz.com/www/3/nakweb.nsf/0/892452842511B6D9C225 7E820028B4FE 50. Midshipmen Robert P. Curt and Timothy D. Delaney, «Marine Transportation of Liquefied Natural Gas»: https://bit.ly/3rjBE5L 51. Martin Anderson Elliott, «Report on the Investigation of the Fire at the Liquefaction Storage, and Regasification Plant of the East Ohio Gas Co., Cleveland Ohio, October 20, 1944»: https://cplorg. contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p128201coll0/id/3562/ 52. Midshipmen Robert P. Curt and Timothy D. Delaney, op.cit 53. Michelle Michot Foss, «INTRODUCTION TO LNG»: https://bit.ly/3aBqN1j; Department of Energy and Climate Change, «DIGEST OF UNITED KINGDOM ENERGY STATISTICS»: https://bit.ly/3ptjo8o 54. Michelle Michot Foss, op.cit 55. Adriatic LNG, «LNG History»: https://www.adriaticlng.it/en/the-terminal/why-lng/lng-history
  • 89.
    56. Ibid. 57. IEA,«Gas 2020»: https://www.iea.org/reports/gas-2020/2021-2025-rebound-and-beyond 58. McKinsey, «Global gas & LNG outlook to 2035»: https://mck.co/3bg5ItC 59. Shell, «SHELL LNG Outlook 2020»: https://www.shell.com/promos/overview-shell-lng-2020. 60. International Gas Union, «2019 World LNG Report»: https://bit.ly/3c5rL5c 61. Jessica Jaganathan (Reuters), «LNG investments hit record of $50 billion in 2019 - IEA chief»: https:// reut.rs/3uTouP0 62. GIIGNL, «GIIGNL Annual Report»: https://giignl.org/system/files/publication/giignl_-_2020_annual_ report_-_04082020.pdf 63. IEA, «Gas 2018 Analysis and Forecasts to 2023»: https://webstore.iea.org/download/ direct/1236?fileName=Market_Report_Series_Gas_2018.pdf. 64. Ibid. 65. The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, «LNG Portfolio Optimization: Challenge, Opportunity and Necessity»: https://bit.ly/3sPRuFO 66. IGU, «2019 WORLD LNG REPORT»: https://www.igu.org/app/uploads-wp/2019/06/IGU-Annual- Report-2019_23.pdf 67. International Energy Agency, Korea Energy Economics Institute, «LNG Market Trends and Their Implications Structures, drivers and developments of major Asian importers»: https://webstore.iea.org/ download/direct/2809 68. Dahlia Nehme (Reuters), «Qatar plans to boost LNG production to 126 mln T by 2027»: https://reut. rs/3uNuWqO 69. EIA, «EIA expects U.S. net natural gas exports to almost double by 2021»: https://www.eia.gov/ todayinenergy/detail.php?id=42575 70. EIA, «Natural Gas Weekly Update for week ending December 11, 2019»: https://bit.ly/2O1sRqL 71. EIA, «Natural Gas Weekly Update for week ending December 11, 2019»: https://bit.ly/2O1sRqL 72. IEA, «Gas 2020», op. cit. 73. Anthony Dipaola (World Oil), «UAE finds 80 tcf gas field, the world’s biggest since 2005»: https://bit. ly/3bkJ2qH 74. European Comission, «EU-U.S. LNG TRADE»: https://ec.europa.eu/energy/sites/ener/files/eu-us_lng_ trade_folder.pdf 75. Market Observatory for Energy of European Commission, Vol. 12, «Quarterly Report on European Gas Markets with focus on the impact of global LNG markets on EU gas imports»: https://bit.ly/3bYJzis 76. Ibid.
  • 90.
    LNG import 77. Ibid. 78. Ibid. 79. Data: Gas Infrastructure Europe 80. Market Observatory for Energy of European Commission, Vol. 12, op. cit. 81. European Commission, «EU-U.S. LNG TRADE U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) has the potential to help match EU gas needs»: https://ec.europa.eu/energy/sites/ener/files/eu-us_lng_trade_folder.pdf 82. Market Observatory for Energy of European Commission, Vol. 12, op. cit. 83. Vitaly Yermakov (Financial Times), «Poland counts the cost of turning down Russian gas taps»: https:// on.ft.com/3kWhqgh 84. Market Observatory for Energy of European Commission, Vol. 12, op. cit. 85. IGU, «2019 WORLD LNG REPORT», op. cit. 86. Vitaly Yermakov (The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies), «Russian Gas: the year of living dangerously. Key Takeaways for 2020 and Beyond»: https://www.oxfordenergy.org/publications/russian-gas-the- year-of-living-dangerously/ 87. Ibid. 88. Mashal Jaffery & Peter Thompson (The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies), «LNG Portfolio Optimization: Challenge, Opportunity and Necessity»: https://www.oxfordenergy.org/wpcms/wp- content/uploads/2020/10/Insight-74-LNG-Portfolio-Optimization.pdf 89. Mashal Jaffery & Peter Thompson (The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies), «LNG Portfolio Optimization: Challenge, Opportunity and Necessity»: https://www.oxfordenergy.org/wpcms/wp- content/uploads/2020/10/Insight-74-LNG-Portfolio-Optimization.pdf 90. MSM Skolkovo, «International gas market. Monitoring, September 2020»: https://bit.ly/3qf1mXN ; MSM Skolkovo, «International gas market. Monitoring, October 2020»: https://bit.ly/309FD9f 91. James Henderson, (The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies), «Quarterly Gas Review:Short and Medium Term Outlook for Gas Markets»: https://www.oxfordenergy.org/wpcms/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/ Quarterly-Gas-Review-Issue-10.pdf 92. ERIN BLANTON (The Center on Global Energy Policy) «The Impact of Covid-19 on LNG Supplies»: https://bit.ly/3uWPWeG 93. The Center on Global Energy Policy, «The Impact of Covid-19 on LNG Supplies»: https://bit.ly/3bgZsSh 94. Bloomberg News, «Global gas markets Q&A: Short-term pain, long-term gain, September 09, 2020»: https://bloom.bg/3eaBSbI 95. Nicholas Newman (Rigzone), «LNG Expands Reach Through Virtual Pipelines»: https://bit.ly/3riP95E 96. Vitaly Yermakov (Financial Times), «Poland counts the cost of turning down Russian gas taps», op.cit; Milda Seputyte (Bloomberg), «Lithuania Grabs LNG in Effort to Curb Russian Dominance»: https:// bloom.bg/38aQy6L
  • 91.
    97. Three SeasInitiative: http://three-seas.eu/ 98. MMBtu (106 British thermal units): the amount of heat required to heat 1 pound of water to 1 ° F. Approximately corresponds to 1, 055 * 109 Joules 99. Rystad Energy, «LNG price rollercoaster: From record lows to highs, what can we expect in 2021?» 100. Ibid. 101. Laura Hurst & Javier Blas (Bloomberg), «Shell Deepens Big Oil’s Disappointment With Earnings Miss»: https://bloom.bg/30dRXW0 102. Eric Yep (S&P Global Plats), «Factbox: Asian spot LNG prices hit record highs on supply glitches, demand spike»:https://bit.ly/3bdF3xu 103. Jessica Jaganathan (Reuters), «UPDATE 6-Freezing temperatures push Asian gas prices to new records»: https://reut.rs/2O2RyTB 104. Stephen Stapczynski & Anna Shiryaevskaya (Bloomberg), «Asian LNG Breaks $30 Barrier as Cold Makes Traders Scramble»: https://bloom.bg/3sOI8db 105. IEA, «Gas 2020», op. cit 106. Rystad Energy, «LNG price rollercoaster: From record lows to highs, what can we expect in 2021?», op. cit. 107. IEA, «Gas 2020», op. cit 108. Stanley Reed & Clifford Krauss (The New York Times), «With Oil Prices Down 20%, OPEC Pushes for Stability»: https://nyti.ms/30dcdqQ 109. Ibid. 110. Stanley Reed (The New York Times), «OPEC Proposes a Large Cut in Oil Output»: https://nyti. ms/30bN53t 111. Stanley Reed & Clifford Krauss (The New York Times), «With Oil Prices Down 20%, OPEC Pushes for Stability»,op. cit 112. Clifford Krauss & Stanley Reed (The New York Times), «Oil Prices Dive as Saudi Arabia Takes Aim at Russian Production»: https://nyti.ms/2OnRxte 113. Stanley Reed (The New York Times), «OPEC and Russia Agree to Cut Oil Production»: https://nyti. ms/3riZkqT 114. Data: WTI 115. Data: Henry Hub; WTI 116. IEA, «The Role of Gas in Today's Energy Transitions»: https://bit.ly/3eaCXAi 117. Дані: EIA, «How much carbon dioxide is produced when different fuels are burned?»: https://bit. ly/3v4yzsK
  • 92.
    LNG import 118. IEA, «TheRole of Gas in Today's Energy Transitions», op. cit 119. European Commission, «Powering a climate-neutral economy: Commission sets out plans for the energy system of the future and clean hydrogen»: https://bit.ly/3uTjcmO 120. Greenpeace, «China, Japan, and Korea promised carbon neutrality. Now we need them to make it happen»: https://bit.ly/37CWi92 121. Joanna Slater (The Washington Post), «Can India chart a low-carbon future? The world might depend on it.»: https://wapo.st/3qNZnuy 122. Gavin Law (Wood Mackenzie), «Is natural gas more emissions intensive than coal?»: https://bit. ly/3skexYR 123. Anna Shiryaevskaya (Bloomberg), «Qatar and Singapore Sign Gas Deal That Details Pollution»: https:// bloom.bg/2NZgIT6 124. Total, «Total Delivers Its First Carbon Neutral Lng Cargo»: https://bit.ly/3c5Gw8p 125. Polskie LNG (Gas Transmission Operator GAZ-SYSTEM), «Terminal Characteristics»: https://bit. ly/3bduvyo 126. James Shotter (Financial Times), «Poland aims to break dependence on Russian gas»: https://on.ft. com/3v2rVDp 127. PolandIn, «Poland decreases gas imports directly from Russia»: https://bit.ly/2MOCkRK 128. Ibid. 129. Kamil Sobczak & Vitaly Yermakov (Oxford Institute for Energy Studies), «Russia-Poland gas relationship: risks and uncertainties of the ever after»: https://bit.ly/2O46u43 130. Maria Dumanska (Deutsche Welle), «Ukraine, Poland and the USA signed memorandum on cooperation in gas sector»: https://bit.ly/3bhXpxs 131. Polskie Radio, «Liquefied gas for Ukraine arrived in Swinoujscie»: https://bit.ly/3aSuDmP 132. Ksenia Polskaya (Deutsche Welle), "Ukraine, Poland and the United States signed an agreement on gas cooperation": https://p.dw.com/p/3OoPx 133. AB Klaipėdos nafta, «Terminals»: https://www.portofklaipeda.lt/uploads/Leidiniai/Terminalas_9ENG.pdf 134. Eurostat, «Slight rise in electricity prices, gas prices stable»: https://bit.ly/3kJT5d8 135. AA Energy, «Lithuania enjoys LNG terminal with lower gas prices»: https://bit.ly/3ef3BYZ 136. Milda Seputyte (Bloomberg), «Lithuania Grabs LNG in Effort to Curb Russian Dominance»: https:// bloom.bg/3uWPtsY 137. Andrius Sytas (Reuters), «Lithuania LNG port aims to be Baltic hub, double flows»: https://reut. rs/30ezbO0 138. AA Energy, op. cit.
  • 93.
    139. European Commission, «AEuropean Green Deal»: https://bit.ly/3qc0cfP 140. AB Klaipėdos Nafta, «Bridging Energy Markets»: https://bit.ly/2PnZQpt 141. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, «Turkey Gas Storage Expansion Project. Project Document»: https://bit.ly/3uX8Hiu 142. The Peninsula, «Qatar Petroleum signs deal to develop world’s largest LNG project»: https://bit. ly/3cgvMnN 143. DiXi Group, "Southern Gas Corridor: Prospects for Ukraine": https://bit.ly/3bdhVz9 144. Nefeli Tzanetakou (ibna), «The EU supports the LNG Krk terminal in Croatia with 100 million euros»: https://bit.ly/2MKq6te 145. Igor Ilic (Reuters), «Croatia kicks off LNG terminal in north Adriatic»: https://reut.rs/2O5nyGJ 146. Enerdata, «Croatia Energy Information»: https://www.enerdata.net/estore/energy-market/croatia/; Deutsche Welle, «Gazprom loses gas monopoly as Southeast European market advances»: https://bit. ly/3qgtxFK 147. Economichna Pravda, "The United States supplied liquefied natural gas to Croatia: the GTS operator wants to transport it to Ukraine": https://bit.ly/3uWUYI6 148. B. Songhurst (Oxford Institute for Energy Studies): «Floating LNG Update – Liquefaction and Import Terminals»: https://bit.ly/30RN7Oc 149. A review of FSRU construction cost benchmarks is based on reviews by B. Songhurst (Oxford Institute for Energy Studies) “The Outlook for Floating Storage and Regasification Units (FSRUs)”: https://bit. ly/3vycrXE 150. Table: B. Songhurst (Oxford Institute for Energy Studies): "Floating LNG Update - Liquefaction and Import Terminals", op. cit. 151. B. Songhurst (Oxford Institute for Energy Studies) «The Outlook for Floating Storage and Regasification Units (FSRUs)», op.cit. 152. Poten & Partners (LNG in World Markets), «Crewing Challenges Increase With Growing LNG Fleet»: https://bit.ly/30LxSGR 153. B. Songhurst (Oxford Institute for Energy Studies) «The Outlook for Floating Storage and Regasification Units (FSRUs)», op.cit 154. Ibid. 155. EUROPEAN COMMISSION, «State aid SA.36740 (2013/NN) – Lithuania; Aid to Klaipedos Nafta – LNG Terminal»: https://bit.ly/3vqIAkd 156. King & Spalding, «LNG in Europe 2018: An Overview of Import Terminals in Europe»: https://bit. ly/3eJRCmh 157. Data: EUROPEAN COMMISSION, «State aid SA.36740 (2013/NN) – Lithuania; Aid to Klaipedos Nafta – LNG Terminal», op. cit.
  • 94.
    LNG import 158. Nordic InvestmentBank, «NIB continues partnership with Klaipėdos Nafta»: https://bit.ly/3ltleFR 159. IGU, «2019 WORLD LNG REPORT», op. cit. 160. Chart: LNG Hrvatska: https://lng.hr/en/lng-terminal 161. LNG Hrvatska: https://lng.hr/en/FSRU-vessel 162. Vessel Finder: https://www.vesselfinder.com/ru/vessels/LNG-CROATIA-IMO-9256767- MMSI-538006747 163. GIIGNL, «The LNG industry; GIIGNL Annual Report»: https://bit.ly/3rNN3ep 164. LNG Croatia, «LNG TERMINAL ON THE ISLAND OF KRK; Status and Project Update»: https://bit. ly/2Q2b8jy 165. Etki Liman, «Etki LNG Terminal»: https://bit.ly/3eXEZ7t 166. Etki Liman: http://www.etkiliman.com.tr/en/FSRU/FSRU.html ; GIIGNL, «The LNG industry; GIIGNL Annual Report», op. cit. 167. Ukrstat 168. Ministry of energy and coal industry, «The main indicators of energy complex development»: http://mpe. kmu.gov.ua/minugol/doccatalog/document?id=245416376 169. State Service for Geology and Subsoil of Ukraine 170. Naftogaz, «The volumes of gas use»: https://bit.ly/3bgtBkx 171. TSO Ukraine 172. Adriatic LNG, «LNG History»: https://www.adriaticlng.it/en/the-terminal/why-lng/lng-history 173. IEA, «Gas 2020»: https://www.iea.org/reports/gas-2020/2021-2025-rebound-and-beyond 174. McKinsey, «Global gas & LNG outlook to 2035»: https://mck.co/3bg5ItC 175. Shell, «SHELL LNG Outlook 2020»: https://www.shell.com/promos/overview-shell-lng-2020. 176. Jessica Jaganathan (Reuters), «LNG investments hit record of $50 billion in 2019 - IEA chief»: https:// reut.rs/3uTouP0 177. Gas Infrastructure Europe 178. Market Observatory for Energy, Vol. 12, op.cit. 179. ERIN BLANTON (The Center on Global Energy Policy) «The Impact of Covid-19 on LNG Supplies»: https://bit.ly/3uWPWeG 180. IEA, «Gas 2020», op. cit 181. Ibid.
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    182. PolandIn, «Poland decreasesgas imports directly from Russia»: https://bit.ly/2MOCkRK 183. Марія Думанська (Deutsche Welle), «Україна, Польща та США підписали меморандум про співпрацю у газовій сфері»: https://bit.ly/3bhXpxs 184. AB Klaipėdos nafta, «Terminals»: https://www.portofklaipeda.lt/uploads/Leidiniai/Terminalas_9ENG.pdf 185. Eurostat, «Slight rise in electricity prices, gas prices stable»: https://bit.ly/3kJT5d8 186. AA Energy, «Lithuania enjoys LNG terminal with lower gas prices»: https://bit.ly/3ef3BYZ 187. Milda Seputyte (Bloomberg), «Lithuania Grabs LNG in Effort to Curb Russian Dominance»: https:// bloom.bg/3uWPtsY 188. Enerdata, «Croatia Energy Information»: https://www.enerdata.net/estore/energy-market/croatia/; Deutsche Welle, «Gazprom loses gas monopoly as Southeast European market advances»: https://bit. ly/3qgtxFK 189. B. Songhurst (Oxford Institute for Energy Studies): «Floating LNG Update – Liquefaction and Import Terminals»: https://bit.ly/30RN7Oc; B. Songhurst (Oxford Institute for Energy Studies) «The Outlook for Floating Storage and Regasification Units (FSRUs)»: https://bit.ly/3vycrXE
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