Croatia’s gas supply stable, Krk LNG terminal fully booked until 2037

Omisalj, Krk (Photo: Wakowlk/CC BY-SA 3.0)

Croatia’s gas supply remains stable despite rising tensions in the Middle East, according to the director of the Krk LNG terminal.

Speaking on HRT’s main evening news Dnevnik, Ivan Fugaš, head of the LNG terminal on the island of Krk, said Croatia has so far experienced no disruptions to its gas supply.

The main reason, he explained, is that Croatia does not import gas from the Middle East.

“In principle, Croatia does not source its gas from those parts of the world, so at the moment we are completely fine,” Fugaš said.

No recent LNG shipments from Qatar

Fugaš noted that although several LNG shipments from Qatar arrived when the terminal first began operating, there have been none since the final quarter of 2023, nor are any currently expected.

The Krk LNG terminal continues to operate at full capacity, with all its booking slots already sold out until 2037.

Since opening, the terminal has received around 140 LNG carriers, underlining its growing strategic importance for Croatia and the wider region.

Majority of LNG coming from the United States

Most liquefied natural gas delivered to Croatia now comes from the United States.

Fugaš said that from the start of the current gas year, all shipments have arrived from the US, except the most recent delivery from Algeria.

Overall, around 67–68% of LNG imports have come from the United States, followed by Trinidad and Tobago and Algeria, with other countries supplying smaller volumes.

On average, around 30 LNG carriers are contracted each year.

Europe still partly reliant on Qatari LNG

Across Europe, around 10% of LNG imports currently come from Qatar and the wider Middle East region.

While the situation remains stable for now, Fugaš warned that prolonged conflict could eventually affect global supply patterns.

“It is difficult to predict what could happen if the conflict continues, but at the moment there should be no major problems,” he said.

No immediate impact on gas prices

Concerns about potential price increases for consumers also appear premature.

Fugaš said there are currently no signals that gas prices will rise significantly for end users.

Energy markets often react sharply to geopolitical news, he added, even before any real disruption occurs.

“Any unsettling news automatically pushes prices up, regardless of what has actually happened. But history shows that once the situation calms, markets calm as well,” he explained, referencing the energy market reaction following the start of the war in Ukraine three years ago.

Strong gas infrastructure in Croatia

Fugaš also highlighted the strength of Croatia’s gas infrastructure, which includes the LNG terminal on Krk, a modern gas transport system operated by Plinacro, and multiple European interconnections.

Croatia also benefits from underground gas storage operated by PSP, as well as domestic production by INA.

“With the LNG terminal, strong transport system, interconnections with Europe and storage capacity, Croatia’s gas system is in a very good position,” Fugaš concluded.