Croatia's state-owned gas pipeline operator Plinacro plans to install a floating terminal for liquefied natural gas as a temporary replacement for a much bigger but delayed Adria LNG project, Plinacro said on Monday.
"We are now waiting for a formal approval from the government to kick off preparations for such a terminal," Plinacro spokeswoman Neda Erdeljac said.
The Economy Ministry, which is in charge of the European Union candidate's energy policy, has said it was in favour of Plinacro's plan, which would help Croatia diversify gas supply routes while awaiting a final investment decision on a land-based LNG terminal on the northern Adriatic island of Krk.
"This project is neither a competition nor a replacement for the land-based terminal project. It is rather seen as a forerunner project. Of course, if the Adria LNG project is abandoned, this could serve for a long-term supply of Croatia and neighbouring countries," Plinacro said in a statement.
The floating terminal, whose capacity was provisionally seen at some 6 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas per year, is planned to be installed off the coast near the location for the other planned terminal at Krk.
The investment is seen as worth some 50 million euros ($69.51 million).
"It takes around two years to realise projects of this kind," Plinacro also said in the statement sent to Reuters.
The Economy Ministry said Plinacro was soon due to publish a tender to seek partners willing to join in the floating terminal project.
Croatia's current gas consumption amounts to slightly below 3 bcm annually. It secures some 60-65 percent from its own resources, while the rest is currently imported from Russia.
A consortium of four foreign energy firms is behind plans to build the LNG terminal on Krk, whose capacity is planned at up to 15 bcm of gas per year.
"We are now waiting for a formal approval from the government to kick off preparations for such a terminal," Plinacro spokeswoman Neda Erdeljac said.
The Economy Ministry, which is in charge of the European Union candidate's energy policy, has said it was in favour of Plinacro's plan, which would help Croatia diversify gas supply routes while awaiting a final investment decision on a land-based LNG terminal on the northern Adriatic island of Krk.
"This project is neither a competition nor a replacement for the land-based terminal project. It is rather seen as a forerunner project. Of course, if the Adria LNG project is abandoned, this could serve for a long-term supply of Croatia and neighbouring countries," Plinacro said in a statement.
The floating terminal, whose capacity was provisionally seen at some 6 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas per year, is planned to be installed off the coast near the location for the other planned terminal at Krk.
The investment is seen as worth some 50 million euros ($69.51 million).
"It takes around two years to realise projects of this kind," Plinacro also said in the statement sent to Reuters.
The Economy Ministry said Plinacro was soon due to publish a tender to seek partners willing to join in the floating terminal project.
Croatia's current gas consumption amounts to slightly below 3 bcm annually. It secures some 60-65 percent from its own resources, while the rest is currently imported from Russia.
A consortium of four foreign energy firms is behind plans to build the LNG terminal on Krk, whose capacity is planned at up to 15 bcm of gas per year.