"We have a study and we have three possible options, scenarios, and the government will have to make a decision. Speaking about long-term prospects and the financial burden we have today, then, perhaps, yes," he told reporters in Kiev when asked if Lithuania would purchase the vessel.

A study by the international consultancy Poyry Management Consulting has found that Lithuania would benefit most from purchasing the FSRU, named Independence, after expiry of the lease contract with Norway's Hoegh LNG in 2024.

Lithuania would receive a somewhat lower benefit if it extended the lease for another 20 years.