August 14, 2018 [Tank News International] – The European Commission has found Croatian plans to support the construction and operation of an LNG terminal at Krk island to be in line with EU State aid rules. The project will contribute to the security and diversification of energy supplies without unduly distorting competition.

 
The measures approved will support the construction and operation of a floating LNG terminal, consisting of a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) and the connections to the national gas transmission network. The LNG terminal is designed to transport up to 2.6 billion cubic meters per year (bcm/y) of natural gas into Croatia national transmission network as from 2021.
 
The total investment costs to build the terminal amount to €233.6 million. This will be financed through:
 
a direct equity contribution of €32.2 million from the LNG terminal company shareholders; a contribution of €101.4 million from the Connecting Europe Facility, which is centrally managed by the European Commission, through the Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (INEA); a direct financial contribution of €100 million from the Croatian State budget.
 
In addition, Croatia will grant a tariff compensation called ‘security of supply fee’, which is financed by levies charged by the gas transmission system operator to gas users along with gas transmission tariffs, in case revenues from the terminal fees are not sufficient to cover operating expenses.
 
Croatia notified the Commission of the €100 million direct financial contribution, as well as of the security of supply fee. Both support measures involve State aid under EU rules.
 
The Commission concluded that the measures are in line with EU State aid rules, as they contribute to further key strategic objectives of the EU, including diversifying gas supply sources and increasing the EU’s security of gas supply, notably in the Central and South-Eastern regions, without unduly distorting competition.

 
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