Hungary May Join in Croatian LNG Terminal

“It would be a win-win project, as through interconnectors in Hungary we could supply Slovakia and Poland on one side and Romania on the other,” Cacic said. He also said Croatia would aim “at a starting position of holding a 25 percent plus one share package” in the project.

Cacic made the comments after meeting with Pal Kovacs, Hungary’s state secretary for national development.  Qatar and Macquarie Group have also been linked as possible investors.

Croatia plans to build a liquefied natural-gas terminal on Krk by 2016. The project would connect to the proposed Trans Adriatic Pipeline.

The country has been frustrated with delays in the development of the Adria LNG project at Krk. Adria LNG has delayed a decision on its proposed 10 billion cubic metre (Gm3)/year LNG terminal to 2013.

Croatian state-owned pipeline operator Plinacro d.o.o has confirmed that it is undertaking a feasibility study for a planned LNG terminal in light of delays by Adria LNG.
 
E.ON Ruhrgas is the major shareholder in the Adria LNG consortium with a 39.17 per cent stake. OMV holds a 32.48 per cent stake, while Total holds a 27.35 per cent stake. Geoplin holds the remaining 1 per cent stake.
 
A study released this October by Plinacro forecast natural-gas consumption in Croatia and Albania to double by 2020 to 11 billion cubic meters (385 billion cubic feet) of gas a year.