Belarus is planning to diversify its gas imports by participating in gas extraction projects abroad and purchasing liquefied natural gas (LNG) in a bid to reduce its dependence on Russian gas supplies.
Belarus's new energy development strategy is published on the national legal Internet portal.
"Diversification of gas imports will be continued through Belarusian organizations' involvement in gas exploration and extraction abroad, as well as through liquefied natural gas supplies... including via Ukraine," the document said.
The energy development strategy stipulates that Belarus may participate in the construction of liquefied natural gas terminals in Lithuania and Poland and import LNG from these countries.
In July, Lithuanian Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius said the country's authorities were planning to construct an LNG terminal at the Klaipådos nafta oil terminal in the Baltic Sea port of Klaipeda. He said Belarus's proposal to construct the facility was being considered among others.
If Belarus's plans on LNG terminal construction are realized, LNG supplies to the country may reach 10 billion cubic meters a year, which would "considerably reduce [Belarus's] dependence on natural gas supplies from Russia," the document said.
Belarus is not counting on direct gas supplies from Central Asia, where the lion's share of gas exports belong to Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. RIA Novosti
