In 2010, Rokas Masiulis got a new job - with a very ambitious assignment.
The job was as CEO of Klaipėdos Nafta, a state-owned company that operates oil and gas terminals.
The mission: To make Lithuania independent of Russian gas.
"Be 100 percent dependent on Russia"
- Since we only got gas from Russia, we were 100 percent dependent on Russia.
Our electricity production was also mainly based on gas.
It was a big risk, so we decided to build an LNG terminal (liquefied natural gas), says Rokas Masiulis.
Behind the decision was also a conflict between Lithuania and the Russian gas giant Gazprom in the 1990s.
"They said it was impossible"
Lithuania received support from other European countries.
At the same time, there was skepticism that the country would be able to meet its ambitious target.
- The project was met with great scepticism.
We were told that Lithuania was too small and it was doubtful that we would succeed.
Everyone, including the Russian media, said it was impossible.
Therefore, it was important for me, my team and the whole country to refute everyone.
Was ready in 2014
In 2014, less than three years after the plans were set in motion, the ship Independence was ready in the port of Klaipeda.
- It became a success story, not only financially but also politically, says Rokas Masiulis, who became energy minister the same year.
Today, Lithuania imports natural gas from, among others, Norway, the USA and Qatar.
The terminal also supplies Estonia, Latvia and Finland with liquid gas.
First country to stop all imports of Russian gas
Lithuania has continued to import a small amount of Russian gas, but in April the country became the first in the EU to stop all imports.
The pressure to become independent from Russian gas has increased and more countries are now looking at similar solutions, including Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.
If you got so much support, why haven't more countries done like you?
- That is a very good question.
We've always wondered why more people haven't come to the same conclusion.