The consultancy Booz&Company, which carried out the study, has concluded that two options – to build such a facility in Estonia or in Finland – are equally good.
According to the Commission, the study provides the strategic framework based on which the Member States concerned and project promoters should make future decisions. It also identifies the infrastructure required for proper functioning of the internal market and security of supply in the region.
The study on the supply of LNG in the East-Baltic region was carried out at the request of the Member States involved in the implementation of the Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan (BEMIP). In addition to the location of the regional LNG terminal, the study identified other infrastructure elements required to enhance the regional security of energy supply.
The Member States concerned are expected to agree on an action plan for the implementation of the BEMIP program in the areas of infrastructure development and gas supply diversification at the next meeting of the high-level BEMIP task group, taking the findings of the study into consideration. The plan should outline specific measures covering political arrangements, regulatory issues and commercial decisions, project development and implementation of infrastructure projects, the Commission said in a press release.
The regional terminal would supply gas to the Baltic countries and Finland, which are now fully dependent on the Eastern supplier. The terminal would be eligible for financial support from the EU.