Bomin Linde, Lithuanian LNG Terminal sign MoU

OSLO, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Lithuania's liquefied natural gas import terminal and Germany's Bomin Linde LNG will work together to develop the use of LNG as marine fuel in the Baltic Sea, the terminal's operator Klaipedos Nafta said on Thursday.

Lithuania opened the first LNG import terminal in the Baltic states last December to cut its dependence on pipeline gas imports from Russia.

"In close cooperation both companies aim to jointly develop the LNG fuel market including the necessary infrastructure in Baltic Sea," Klaipedos Nafta said in a statement after signing a memorandum of understanding with the German LNG supplier.

LNG demand for shipping in the Baltic region is going to increase due to stricter environmental regulations for sulphur content in the fuel.

Hamburg-based Bomin Linde LNG, a joint venture between Linde Group and Mabanaft, a subsidiary of Marquard&Bahls AG , intends to use Lithuania's terminal as the regional break-bulking hub for the Baltic Sea.

Bomin Linde LNG and Klaipedos Nafta also agreed to jointly explore the possibilities to develop a bunkering vessel. Such a vessel would provide LNG bunkering services in the region, feed the LNG reloading station in Klaipeda, Bomin Linde's LNG bunkering terminals and other bunkering terminals in the Baltic Sea.

The Klaipeda terminal, which received the first commercial LNG cargo at the end of December, can store 170,000 cubic metres of super-cooled gas.

Litgas, a Lithuanian LNG importer, said recently it was considering a cooperation with Norway's Statoil in developing bunkering services in the Baltic Sea. (Reporting by Nerijus Adomaitis