The Klaipeda Port Development Council met on November 26 to discuss ways to accelerate the port’s preparations for offshore wind energy development. The Port of Klaipeda has the ambition to play a significant role in the newly emerging market of the Baltic Sea.
Lithuania is already actively preparing to develop offshore wind energy in the Baltic Sea. One of the key elements of the offshore energy technology deployment strategy will be port operations.
The Port Development Council, chaired by Minister of Transport and Communications, Marius Skuodis, met in Klaipeda today to discuss ways to speed things up. The Port Development Council consists of representatives from the government, various ministries, public authorities, business associations and scientific institutions. The Authority shall study and submit proposals to the Government for the identification of priority areas for port economic development and other matters.
Prior to the planned auction in 2023, during which the developer of a wind farm in Lithuania (700 MW) will be selected, the port of Klaipeda should analyse its development strategy.
“In order to ensure the preparatory processes necessary for the operation of wind turbines in Klaipeda port, today we discussed the diversification of the port’s activities and the development of the marine engineering industry, promoting not only transshipment activities in the port, but also manufacturing activities. Taking the initiative together with the Ministry of Economy and Innovation, Invest Lithuania and the Klaipeda State Seaport Authority, we will prepare a proposal for the development of the marine engineering industry,” indicated the Minister of Transport and Communications, Marius Skuodis, quoted in the communiqué.
The port plans to handle, transport, store and assemble wind turbine components for the Lithuanian farm.
Algis Latakas, Director General of the Klaipeda State Seaport Authority, said that a survey has already been conducted among current port users who would be interested in participating in the supply chain for the offshore farm. The results of the survey indicated that port users would be interested in wind turbine development.
The currently planned 70 ha site in the southern part of the port could be used for, among other things, storage purposes.
