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04.04.2013 18:01

Lithuania Regrets Rushed Gas Sector Liberalisation

Lithuanian energy minister expressed regrets about premature decisions on implementing the EU's 3rd energy package in detriment of cheaper Russian gas

AUTHOR: publics.bg

© Gazprom

Economy Minister Birutė Vėsaitė has said on Thursday that Lithuania could have implemented the EU's third energy package at a slower pace, like the other two Baltic countries. Latvia and Estonia, she says, now pay around 20 percent less for natural gas supplied by Russia's gas giant Gazprom.

"I think that we could implement the third liberalization package the way the Estonians are implementing it, with minimum losses for our consumers. I think that the same goals can be achieved with more care about our consumers and our business competitiveness," Vėsaitė said in an interview to the radio station Žinių Radijas.

The Russian ambassador to Lithuania, Vladimir Chkhikvadze, said on Wednesday that Latvia and Estonia, which had delayed the implementation of the energy package by choosing a less stringent option provided by the EU directive, were paying 20 percent less for gas than Lithuania.

"We are paying for past mistakes," Vėsaitė said when asked to comment on the Russian ambassador's words, local website 15min.lt reported.

The implementation of the third energy package, which provides for unbundling of gas transmission, distribution, and supply operations, has sparked disputes between Lithuania and Gazprom.

Lithuania plans to unbundle the assets of Lietuvos Dujos (Lithuanian Gas) - in which Gazprom holds a 37.1-percent stake - by the end of 2014 in order to bring it into line with the third energy package. Following the reorganization, Lietuvos Dujos' gas transmission pipelines will be spun off into a new company.