Gas
Klaipėda LNG terminal receives subsea power cable
Lithuania's KN Energies has taken a key step in its terminal electrification initiative with the arrival of a bespoke subsea power cable.
Key points
- A 3.88-kilometre subsea power cable has arrived in Lithuania for the Klaipėda LNG terminal project.
- The infrastructure will allow the FSRU Independence to run on onshore electricity rather than onboard generators.
- Project developers estimate the upgrade will cut the terminal's carbon dioxide emissions by roughly one-third.
What happened
According to LNG Industry reporting, the shore power infrastructure project for the Klaipėda LNG terminal has advanced with the delivery of a 3.88-kilometre underwater power cable from Finland. Prysmian Group Finland manufactured the hardware, which was ordered by the project contractor, AB Kauno tiltai. Transported across three drums weighing a combined 79 tonnes, the equipment was shipped to Estonia before road delivery to Lithuania.
KN Energies Chief Executive Officer Darius Šilenskis noted that the investment aims to lower operational emissions and boost energy efficiency. The 11-centimetre-thick cable will be laid primarily beneath the Curonian Lagoon, reaching depths of approximately 45 metres using horizontal directional drilling.
Why it matters
At present, the FSRU Independence relies on internal engines to generate power for its systems autonomously. Transitioning the vessel to shore-based electricity, which will draw from renewable sources, is projected to reduce the facility's carbon dioxide output by about 33 percent.
This initiative forms part of broader corporate targets at KN Energies to decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent before 2030 and reach climate neutrality by mid-century. The entire engineering and construction contract carries a value of 19.3 million euros, excluding VAT, supported by 6 million euros from the European Union Modernisation Fund.
What comes next
Cable installation is scheduled to commence shortly and wrap up by the spring of 2027. Workers will simultaneously handle a 2.5-kilometre onshore portion to complete the 6.5-kilometre transmission route. The full electrification scheme is slated for final completion by May 2028.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Gas is the flexible backbone of many grids and the designated transition fuel in many national plans, from LNG trade to domestic LPG and CNG. Supply security and pricing drive both power reliability and emissions.
21.9% of electricity in the world came from gas in 2024Countries in this story
Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
