Energy, Chemicals & Utilities
Energy, chemistry and utilities industry includes:
• Production, import, export, distribution processing of trade in of energy resources raw materials and products;
• Production, import, export, processing of trade in chemicals and raw materials;
• Utilities services: collecting, removal, recycling of waste, cleaning and other services.
During recent years, these industry areas develop due to increasing internal demand on energy and energy products, new foreign markets for exporting goods and increasing environmental requirements and need to develop utilities, assorting and recycling business. Bouncing oil prices in world markets and dependence on energy resources imports from Russia and other exUSSR states have impact on this industry area. Problems are caused by the complicated mechanism of regulating energy prices, monopolisation of energy suppliers.
Many funds are needed to restructure and renovate energy enterprises. After closure of Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant, Lithuania reorganises the energy sector, refreshes existing production capabilities and constructs the new ones, Latvia, which imports up to 30 % of energy from Russia, Lithuania and Estonia, is assigning major resources for renovating thermal power plants.
Development of the utilities sector is slowed down by thinking inertia, people are just starting to get accustomed to sorting waste. Big investments are needed into utility systems, land fill sites, recycling in compliance with the European standards. Environmental requirements are still hardly being implemented in this sector.
In the future energy, chemicals and utilities industries should develop further. Possible threats and risks are related with significant dependence of the Baltic States energy systems on Russia and other CIS states. The biggest part of crude oil and gas is imported from Russia. Oil can also be imported by tankers through ports, but the Baltic States are connected by gas pipes only with Russia and Belorussia. Projects of building new pipe lines have been vague so far; nevertheless, the projects of cross-system electrical connections are about to being implemented that should contribute to the energy independence of the Baltic States.
Experience
“Baltic Legal Solutions” consists of one of the most experienced teams of lawyers specialising in serving energy companies in the Baltic States.
The lawyers of “Baltic Legal Solutions” provide advice to clients regarding energy source funding and development projects, energy market regulation and reforms, investment into privatisation and restructuring of heat and energy units. “Baltic Legal Solutions Lithuania” also consults in drafting of energy projects and legal acts as well as analyse them for their
Practitioners of „Baltic Legal Solutions“ have also provided legal advice to a great deal of large national energy companies in relation with investment, restructuring, reorganisation and other business issues.