In a comment published last week, the US international intelligence organization says there are many questions as to how realistic the Russian plans are of building a liquefied natural gas terminal in Kaliningrad in order to avoid transit via Lithuania.
Often dubbed the “shadow” CIA by the press, the organization believes that Russia does not have enough plants to supply liquefied natural gas to Kaliningrad – the only suitable facility currently operates in Sakhalin.
"The 2015 deadline for reaching a new natural gas agreement with Lithuania will arrive before any Russian liquefied natural gas could reach Kaliningrad," reads the article.
"Kaliningrad's isolation from the rest of Russia and long-term concerns over supply security for the exclave will remain among the most controversial points in the Lithuanian-Russian energy negotiations. (…) Disagreements and tensions between Lithuania and Russia over energy and political issues can be expected to continue," Stratfor said.
Last week, Russian gas giant Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller and Kaliningrad Governor Nikolai Tsukanov signed an agreement on implementation of the liquefied natural gas terminal project.
Miller told the Russian media that the essence of the agreement was cooperation in the harmonization and receiving the permit for the construction of the LNG terminal.
In Tsukanov's words, the construction site of the terminal is being discussed, with two options proposed by the local administration and one by Gazprom.
Russia also said it is considering a Kaliningrad branch of the gas pipeline Nord Stream from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea.
