Croatia's Ministry of Environmental Protection, Physical Planning and Construction published on its website on Thursday a decision saying that the construction of an LNG terminal on the northern Adriatic island of Krk is environmentally acceptable with the application of environmental protection measures, an implementation plan and a programme for monitoring the state of the environment, Adria LNG, which is in charge of the construction, said in a press release on Thursday.
The decision marks the successful completion of the estimate of the project's impact on the environment after more than one year, the press release said.
The positive decision is important for the resumption of the project, Adria LNG director general Michael Mertl said, adding significant progress was made last year thanks to the Croatian government's support.
Adria LNG will apply for a development permit very soon, the press release said, adding that the island of Krk was considered one of the best locations in the northern Adriatic.
The advantages include sea depth, access to the gas supply network, a good position with regard to the main suppliers in the Middle East and north Africa, and the location in an existing industrial zone with an acceptable impact on the environment.
In the first stage, the terminal's annual capacity will be 10 billion cubic metres of natural gas. Apart from ensuring supplies for Croatia, the terminal will also supply Italy, Slovenia, Austria and Hungary.
The terminal project is worth EUR 800 million, while the construction of a gas pipeline will push it over EUR 1 billion, Adria LNG said.
