Terminal for liquefied natural gas on Krk as an energy-geopolitic link of Baltic-Adriatic-Mediterranean

Tema ovog rada je analiza povezivanja opskrbe prirodnim plinom sjevera i juga Europe i uloge hrvatskog terminala za ukapljeni prirodni plin u tom procesu. Prirodni plin postao je jedan od najvažnijih energenata 21. stoljeća. Zahvaljujući razvoju tržišta ukapljenog prirodnog plina, plin je postao dostupan, konkurentan i globalan, posebno za energetski ovisne države. Kao i nafta u 20. stoljeću, plin dobiva sve veći politički i geopolitički karakter, posebice na europskom kontinentu, kojeg definira visoka ovisnost o uvozu iz Rusije. Energetsko zakonodavstvo, „zelena“ energija, plinska infrastruktura te međusobni odnosi europskih država ukapljeni prirodni plin u Poljskoj i Hrvatskoj, te njihov doprinos sigurnosti opskrbe plinom i tržištu prirodnog plina. Prikazat će se kratka analiza stanja tržišta plina u Europi i utjecaja ukapljenog prirodnog plina. Definirat će se i objasniti pojmovi energetske sigurnosti, sigurnosti opskrbe plinom, njihovi izazovi i moguća rješenja kroz legislativu i praksu Europske unije. Povezati će se povijesne, političke i geopolitičke odrednice koju su imale i imaju utjecaj na stvaranje političkih i gospodarskih odnosa zemalja Srednje Europe sa drugim državama. Kroz naglasak na energetsku i političku sigurnost, pojasnit će se važnost povezivanja plinskih tokova i plinske infrastrukture, posebice Srednje Europe. Povezivanja kroz projekte podržane od formalnih struktura Europske unije ali i jedne neformalne organizacije koja bi mogla značajno doprinijeti u predstojećim sve izvjesnijim izazovima energetske sigurnosti.The topic of this paper is the analysis of the natural gas supply connectivity of northern and southern Europe, and the role of the Croatian liquefied natural gas terminal in this process. Natural gas has become one of the most important energy sources of the 21st century. In order of development of the liquefied natural gas market, gas has become accessible, competitive and global, especially for energy-dependent countries. Like oil in the 20th century, gas is gaining an increasing political and geopolitical character, especially on the European continent, which is defined by high dependence on imports from Russia. Energy legislation, green energy, gas infrastructure and relations between European countries are challenges that will be clarified in this paper. The possibilities of connecting liquefied natural gas terminals in Poland and Croatia will be defined, as well as their contribution to security of gas supply and the natural gas market. A brief analysis of the gas market in Europe and the impact of liquefied natural gas will be presented. The concepts of energy security, security of gas supply, their challenges and possible solutions will be defined and explained through the legislation and practice of the European Union. It will connect the historical, political and geopolitical determinants that have had and have an impact on the creation of political and economic relations of Central European countries with other countries. Through the emphasis on energy and political security, the importance of connecting gas flows and gas infrastructure will be clarified, especially for Central Europe. Connecting through projects supported by formal structures of the European Union, but also an informal organization that could significantly contribute to the challenges of energy security