Reform in the gas sector: EU mistakes will play into the hands of local authorities

A commentary by the LFMI senior analyst Žilvinas Šilėnas, posted on the portal Delfi.lt., about the conceptual framework of the Natural Gas Law that is currently under preparation. Lithuania has chosen to transpose the directive in its strictest form, with the full ownership unbundling. In this situation, two possibilities raise concerns. First, the EU promises significant changes; however, it is not clear whether they are going to be effective. Secondly, referring to the EU directive, local authorities may try to reclaim the control of the sector and their ownership.