Ahead of a cabinet meeting on Thursday, Croatia's Environment Protection and Energy Minister, Tomislav Coric, said that he expected the Parliament to adopt today the bill on the construction of a floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, which he said is a strategically important project.

Coric added that the project would put Croatia on Europe’s energy infrastructure map, while Tourism Minister, Gari Cappelli, ruled out any detrimental effects that the terminal might have for the tourist industry on the northern Adriatic island of Krk, where the terminal is to be built.

Asked to reply to activists who have announced that they would block the Krk Bridge connecting the island to Croatia’s mainland in protest against the construction of the floating terminal, Coric said that he expected the bill to be adopted in Parliament today, explaining that the terminal is of strategic interest for Croatia and could position the country on Europe’s energy map.

Unlike some who incorrectly claim the opposite, the terminal will in the long run secure cheaper gas supplies for Croatian consumers, and increase supply security, Coric said.

Asked whether the LNG terminal or the protest rallies against its construction – particularly announcements that protesters would block the Krk Bridge – could affect the tourist season, Tourism Minister, Gari Cappelli, said that he didn’t think so.

“I don’t believe that it will be detrimental to tourism (on the island). I do know that the LNG terminal will include state-of-the-art technology,” he said.

Transport Minister, Oleg Butkovic, said that experts have said that the project is acceptable.

“We all can have our own opinions. Experts have said that it’s okay,” Butkovic told reporters ahead of the cabinet meeting.

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