In recent years, changes have been made in the structure of primary energy use in the European
Union In addition, a reduction in the use of primary energy has also been observed. According to
the forecasts of the International Energy Agency, the European energy market will be subject to
further changes in the perspective of 2040. These may include the reduction of the energy consumption
and the change in the structure of the energy balance as a result pro-ecological activities.
Natural gas will be the only fossil energy carrier whose role in covering the energy demand will not
change. Along with the changes taking place in the European energy market, global changes can
also be observed. The EU Member States will continue to strive to diversify natural gas supplies.
One of the main elements of diversification of natural gas supplies is the use of LNG regasification
terminals. The reasons for that include the increasing production of natural gas, particularly in the
case of unconventional deposits, the ongoing development of liquefaction terminals, and, as a consequence,
an increase in the LNG supply in the global market. The article presents the utilization of
regasification terminals in the EU Member States and plans for the development of LNG terminals.
Europe has the opportunity to import natural gas through LNG terminals. However, until now,
these have been used to a limited extent. This may indicate that in addition to diversification tasks,
terminals can act as a safeguard against interruptions in gas supplies.