Lithuanian PM: Gazprom Will Only Be Investor in Gas System
Lithuanian Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius has said that Gazprom will act as a financial investor only in Lithuania's gas system. He said that Gazprom would have no casting votes or input into the running of the country's gas transmission system.
The Prime Minister said the unbundling of Lithuania's gas monopolies would open the door to Gazprom's participation but said that the only investment Gazprom would make in the project would be a financial one.
Mr. Kubilius said today that he had handed a letter to Gazprom Deputy CEO Alexander Medvedev asserting this fact and said Gazprom would only be an investor in a gas transit project that runs from Kaliningrad, Russia to Lithuania.
"Gazprom remains a very important strategic partner and it is absolutely natural that the company is concerned about the so-called gas transit to the Kaliningrad region," he told a Lithuanian radio station today. "I personally do not see anything wrong in that. Gazprom would be just a financial investor without a final say; as Lithuania would be the one holding that right, there is nothing to worry about."
Yesterday, Mr. Kubilius met with Deputy Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee, Alexander Medvedev to discuss strategic cooperation between Gazprom and Lithuania.
A press release from Gazprom said the politician and the executive discussed a "roadmap" for cooperation between the countries, particularly in relation to the Third Energy Package and Lithuania's main gas company, Lietuvos Dujos. Lietuvos Dujos currently controls the transmission, sales, distribution and imports of gas in Lithuania. Gazprom holds a 37.1 per cent stake in the company, with E.ON Ruhrgas holding a 38.9 per cent stake and Lithuanian State Property Fund a 17.7 per cent stake.
Today Prime Minister Kubilius said that Lithuania was dedicated to implementing the provisions of the Third Energy Package. Under the package, Lithuania is required to separate out the operational activities of Lietuvos Dujos to break the monopolisation of gas supply in the country.