Reuters: Estonia buys first gas from Lithuania, side-stepping Russia

Estonia imported its first natural gas from Lithuania, via Latvia, last week in a move which reduces its energy dependence on Russia, Latvia's gas grid operator Latvijas Gaze said on Monday.

The amount of gas was small but it was an important test for an import procedure side-stepping Russia's Gazprom, which has until recently enjoyed a supply monopoly in the region. Lithuania still imports much of its gas from Russia but has moved to diversify via a liquefied natural gas port.

"Latvijas Gaze has transported 100,000 cubic meters of gas from Lithuania to Estonia last week," said Vinsents Makaris, the spokesman for the Latvian utility. Estonia consumed 700 million cubic metres (mcm) last year
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