Lithuania has no indigenous energy resources. Ninety percent of its primary energy is imported. Forests in Lithuania cover about 30 percent of the total area. The Government approved 5.4 Mm3s average annual forest felling until by 2003. The annual potential of fuel wood from forests is estimated to be 1Mm3s of firewood and 1Mm3s of forest felling residues. Fuel wood potential of wood processing residues is estimated at 2Mm3s. About half of the whole potential, which is 4 Mm3s, was utilised in 1997. Forestry specialists estimate that about 20,000 to 58,000 hectares are the potential land available for wood energy crops. At present only one percent of the potential is used in heat boilers. Firewood production (including estimated non-commercial harvesting) in 1997 was 11 percent of primary energy production. The share of firewood in 1997 was five percent of the total primary energy consumption. Around 0.5 percent of the total fuel consumption for heat generation in 1997 was firewood (47,000Mm3s).
A. INSTITUTIONAL ASPECTS
A.1. - POLICIES, STRATEGIES AND PROJECTS
The main goals of Lithuanian energy policy include energy efficiency improvements extending the use of RE and decreasing the dependency of imported fuels.
A.2. - THE ROLE OF TECHNICAL AGENCIES
· SINGARAS is a private company that deals with the implementation of heating plants fired with wood-fuel.