The annually published “Gas Hub Scorecard” by “Energy Traders Europe” is an independent assessment of the maturity and performance of national gas markets from the perspective of energy traders. It evaluates how markets ensure competitive and transparent trading conditions, as well as their operational efficiency and ability to form clear prices.
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One of the evaluated aspects is the transmission system operator’s performance: how effectively it ensures the operation of the gas transmission system, facilitates trading, and guarantees smooth market functioning. The operational assessment of the Lithuanian market, covering activities over the past three years, has been maximal.
“Over the years, the Lithuanian gas market has become an important part of the regional gas system, through which gas can be flexibly transported between the Baltic countries, Finland, Poland, and other European markets. Today, we have many more opportunities to respond to market needs, direct gas flows where they are most needed, and efficiently utilize the entire region’s infrastructure.
This ensures not only greater system flexibility and smoother operation but also more reliable conditions for trading and supply security. Lithuania’s importance in this region is very clear today – our infrastructure has become one of the key links enabling gas to move between the Northern, Baltic, and Central European markets,” says Nemunas Biknius, head of “Amber Grid”.
The report highlights the rapid progress of the Baltic countries and Finland. A region long isolated from the European gas market, having built gas interconnections and LNG terminals, is now rapidly approaching mature European markets – improving trading conditions, clear market rules, ensured transparency, and cross-border integration.
Latvia, Estonia, and Finland also ranked among the best-rated markets – all three scored 14 points each.
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This progress is especially significant considering the region’s historical context. The Baltic states and Finland began developing their gas markets much later than most EU member states, and due to isolation from the rest of the European gas market, exemptions were applied to their liberalization process for a long time. For this reason, “Energy Traders Europe” included the Baltic trading hubs in its assessment only for the first time in 2021.
Record flows and leadership in the green transition
The maturity of the Lithuanian gas market and its growing regional importance are reflected in good performance results. In the first half of this year, the Lithuanian gas transmission system transported 21.3 TWh of gas – 29% more than in the same period last year. Growing international flows are strengthened by the “Amber Gas Corridor” initiative, allowing Lithuania to play an increasingly important transit role in the region and contribute to Europe’s, including Ukraine’s, energy security.
Meanwhile, 10.1 TWh of gas was delivered to Lithuanian consumers – 16% more than in the same period last year. The main source of gas supply and stability guarantee remains the Klaipėda LNG terminal, through which 18.6 TWh of gas was fed into the system in the first half of the year – almost 88% of the total transported volume. Gas injection through the LNG terminal increased by nearly 31% compared to the same period last year.
Lithuania also records records and leadership in the green transition. In the first half of this year, 242.9 GWh of biomethane was injected into the country’s distribution and transmission systems – 2.6 times more than in the same period last year and more than in all of last year. Lithuania is the regional leader in the amount of biomethane injected into the system.
