Over the weekend, the first virtual liquefaction operation of biomethane was successfully completed at the Klaipėda liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, which is operated by KN Energies AB, the company said in a statement.
The operation was carried out with several partners. BioLNG was loaded onto the Coral Energy vessel chartered by the Finnish energy company Gasum OY, acting as the buyer.
The virtual biomethane liquefaction at the terminal was performed by Norwegian energy company Equinor ASA, acting as the seller.
BioLNG is biomethane liquefied from gas in the European gas network and produced from European raw materials.
This process allows customers to use the Klaipėda LNG terminal’s infrastructure to lower their carbon footprint.
Mindaugas Navikas, Chief Commercial Officer at KN Energies, said that the Klaipėda terminal has become the first in the Baltic region to offer virtual biomethane liquefaction services.
He noted that only a few of the 28 operational LNG terminals in Europe currently provide biomethane liquefaction or virtual liquefaction.
Navikas added that this new service offers a flexible and efficient solution for Lithuanian and international market participants seeking sustainable fuel options.
The initiative, he said, will also contribute to the decarbonization of maritime transport in light of the renewable fuel requirements coming into effect in 2025 under EU Regulation /1805.
According to KN Energies, the company has been preparing for the launch of virtual biomethane liquefaction services for some time, aligning with its strategy to expand the LNG value chain. The new service will allow biomethane producers and suppliers to connect their operations to the LNG logistics network and to market gas produced in Lithuania and across Europe within the interconnected European gas system.
KN Energies AB is an international energy terminal operator based in Lithuania. The company manages liquefied natural gas and oil terminals and is responsible for the operation of the Klaipėda LNG terminal, which plays a central role in the regional gas supply chain.
Gasum OY is a Finnish state-owned energy company specializing in natural gas, biogas, and energy market services. It operates across the Nordic region, supplying cleaner energy solutions for transport and industry.
Equinor ASA is a Norwegian publicly listed energy company majority-owned by the Norwegian state. It operates globally in oil, gas, and renewable energy production, focusing on the transition to lower-carbon energy systems.
