Meeting with U.S. Vice President Biden, Lithuania's Prime Minister invited American shale experts to work in his country on Friday.
聽Prime Minister Algirdas聽Butkevicius was invited to the White House to meet Biden to discuss energy issues, among other topics. Later Butkevicius also met with a group of U.S. shale gas experts.
Butkevicius invited U,S, investment in the shale sector in Lithuania.聽聽"Lithuania is establishing聽聽favourable conditions for shale exploration and extraction,"聽Butkevicius said. "I聽hope that the vast experience of the US in prospecting and exploiting shale resources will provide us with necessary input聽and provide聽a new impulse to develop聽these energy resources,鈥� Butkevicius said. 聽"Shale gas exploitation would contribute to the energy independence of the country."聽
The two leaders discussed European energy security and bilateral relations between Lithuania and US. They also talked about the crisis in Ukraine, the coalition fighting in Syria,聽聽and a range of other matters.
Biden said that the US is grateful聽to Lithuania for its leadership within the EU on dealing with the crisis in Ukraine. The Vice President also strongly supported Lithuania鈥檚 membership in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
The Lithuanian government is preparing聽a tender for shale exploration in the country to be offered聽in 2015. However, the American energy company Chevron withdrew its offer for a shale gas exploration license in Lithuania in October 2013. Chevron said that changes in the fiscal, legislative and regulatory climate are the reasons for its聽withdrawal.
by Murat Temizer
Anadolu Agency