Croatia expects an additional 1 billion cubic metres of annual gas-import capacity at the Krk LNG terminal during the second quarter of 2027, strengthening its role in the Central European gas corridor. The expansion is intended to reinforce Croatia’s position as a supply route for Central and Southeast Europe.
LNG Hrvatska has completed its portion of the expansion investment. Transmission system operator Plinacro is continuing work on about 250 kilometres of pipelines designed to move higher volumes into Croatia’s transmission system and regional networks.
Terminal capacity increase tied to pipeline completion
After the remaining pipeline sections are completed, tested and permitted, the terminal’s commercial capacity is expected to rise from 3.5 billion cubic metres to between 4.3 billion and 4.5 billion cubic metres per year. The facility is technically capable of processing around 6.1 billion cubic metres annually.
The operator does not plan to allocate the full technical volume commercially. Capacity will be retained as an operational buffer for adverse weather, equipment problems, emergency supply requirements and other disruptions.
This reserved volume is described as commercially significant because Krk has moved from a national import facility to critical regional infrastructure. Keeping the terminal below its technical maximum is intended to preserve flexibility for managing delays or emergency cargoes without affecting contracted deliveries.
LNG flows continue amid Strait of Hormuz uncertainty
Director Ivan Fugaš said scheduled shipments have continued to arrive and unload normally despite renewed uncertainty in global LNG markets linked to tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. He noted that Europe had been receiving only around 10–12% of its LNG imports from Qatar before the latest disruption.
The lower share limits Europe’s direct exposure compared with more LNG-dependent Asian markets, while indirect effects remain relevant. Competition for flexible cargoes can raise European gas prices even when physical deliveries continue, and Krk provides route diversity without isolating buyers from global LNG pricing.
Reserved capacity through 2037 and onward availability
The terminal’s existing commercial capacity has been fully reserved until 1 October 2037. From 2037 to 2040, around 1.5 billion cubic metres of annual capacity remains available, though the operator does not expect those volumes to be contracted immediately.
The long-term reservations are intended to provide visibility over utilisation and support the economics of the infrastructure expansion. They also indicate regional demand for non-Russian supply routes running through Croatia toward Hungary, Slovenia and other Central European markets.
Approximately 70% of gas entering Croatia’s transmission system currently arrives through Krk. The terminal is therefore expected to play a central role in replenishing underground storage facilities and meeting European inventory requirements.
Pipelines as key constraint for added volumes
The expansion’s impact depends on more than regasification capacity, with downstream transport identified as the limiting factor for moving additional gas across Croatia and into neighbouring systems. Plinacro’s pipeline works are therefore described as important alongside the terminal upgrade itself.
A larger Krk corridor could strengthen competition between LNG, pipeline gas and stored supply across the region. It may also improve security for industrial consumers and power generators exposed to short-term gas-market shocks.
The decision to preserve unused technical capacity reduces maximum commercial return but increases system resilience by maintaining spare capacity when normal market arrangements fail . For critical infrastructure, spare capacity availability is positioned as relevant during disruptions .
