Lithuania eagerly awaits first LNG terminal

Vilnius, Lithuania

AS much of Europe anxiously awaits a Ukraine-Russia deal to avert the risk of winter gas cuts, Lithuania is breathing a sigh of relief as its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal will sever Moscow's grip on gas deliveries to the Baltic states.

Aptly dubbed "Independence", the massive floating LNG facility measuring three football fields in length is due to dock in the port of Klaipeda on Oct 27. Its arrival comes just as Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Europe faces "major transit risks" to gas supplies coming from Russia this winter unless Ukraine resolves a gas dispute with Moscow.