Norway Gas Supplies Secure Food in Lithuania, Diversifying Energy Sources

Lithuania's largest fertiliser plant, Achema, relies on natural gas to produce nitrogen-based fertilisers. The plant supplies mainly European farmers, including those in Lithuania, with around 80-85% of its production being exported and the rest used in the Baltic region.

The link between energy and food is clear: without stable access to natural gas, production stops. Achema's director Ramūnas Miliauskas explains that fertiliser is essential for food production, stating 'quite simply, without fertiliser there would be far less food in the world'. He adds that having this fertiliser plant in Lithuania makes it more self-reliant and does not have to import fertiliser.

The farm of Šarūnas Šiušė is one of the largest farms in Lithuania. It produces wheat, barley, maize, sugar beet, and rapeseed using digital tools to monitor soil quality and crop growth. The farmer emphasizes the importance of balancing profitability with environmental considerations and costs.

Lithuania halted imports of Russian gas following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and now covers its demand through alternative sources, primarily via the LNG terminal in Klaipėda. Equinor delivered the first cargo to the terminal in 2014 and has since been a major gas supplier to Lithuania.