MOSCOW, March 26 (UPI) -- Lithuanian leaders told Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in Moscow that they intend to build a liquefied natural gas terminal in their country.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius said during a Friday meeting with his Russian counterpart that natural gas demand in Lithuania could double following the closure of the Ignalina nuclear power plant in 2009, Russia's state news agency RIA Novosti reports.
The Lithuanian leader said his government wants to work with its regional partners to enhance energy security by looking to alternative resources such as liquefied natural gas.
Lithuanian leaders told officials in Azerbaijan last week that political will was needed to move forward with planned expansions to the Odessa-Brody oil pipeline to bring energy diversity to the region.
Odessa-Brody travels currently in a reverse direction, though plans include extensions and route transfers through the Caucasus.
Putin's discussions Friday with Kubilius included talks in broader trade, economic and transportation matters.
Russia is the primary gas supplier to Baltic countries. Russian energy giant Gazprom owns a minority stake in the Lithuanian gas transit system.
