Energy, Legislation, Lithuania, Transport

Gamtiniu Duju Terminalas.

"STT has a right to investigate whether there are violations and there are any – to find out them. We invited STT into a working group. It is good that they will analyze the situation," Kirkilas told ELTA.

The acting prime minister claimed that the talks that purportedly the state chose a partner for the establishment of the company without any competition are spread by competitors disapproving of the establishment of this terminal and do not comply with the truth.

"This was coordinated with the Tenders Service and performed via surveys, because there are not many players on this arena. A simplified competition was arranged if I may say so," Kirkilas said.

The acting prime minister assured that offers were sent to all subjects operating on the gas market.

As reported, The Special Investigation Service (STT) has launched a pre-trial investigation on alleged violations related to the establishment of the company Gamtiniu Duju Terminalas. Law enforcement officers intend to investigate the legitimacy of the actions of the civil servants of the Economy Ministry in establishing the company and forming its authorized capital together with the company Achema.

As ELTA was informed by the Prosecutor"s Office of Vilnius County, the investigation aims at determining whether the public interest has not been infringed. STT officers visited the Economy Ministry and the company itself on Tuesday.

Ricardas Slapsys, spokesman for the Economy Minister, told ELTA that the officers took away copies of paper documents related to the establishment of Gamtiniu Duju Terminalas and copied the computer data of several employees of the ministry.

According to unofficial data, the officers are checking the computer data of Anicetas Ignotas, undersecretary of the Economy Ministry, and Neringa Pazusiene, head of the public procurement department of the ministry. The company Gamtiniu Duju Terminalas was established this year. A holding of 80% of it belongs to the state and the remaining 20% of shares are owned by the concern Achemos Grupe. The company is responsible for the erection of gas terminal on the Lithuanian seaside.