Croatia Extends LNG Terminal Gas Bidding Deadline

A deadline for bids on output from a planned offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal to be built on Croatia's northern Adriatic island of Krk has been extended until Sept. 28, developers LNG Croatia said on Friday.

Demand will dictate the capacity of the 250 million euro terminal, which is part of EU-led efforts to diversify away from Russian energy imports.

The deadline on bidding for output was Aug. 3 but was delayed on requests from potential customers who are still in negotiations, LNG Croatia said.

The European Commission this week said it had earmarked 124 million euros for the project which will supply gas to countries in eastern and central Europe, regions which rely heavily on Russian gas.

Croatia's parliament in June passed a law which cleared the way for construction of the terminal.

U.S. energy firms are keen to supply gas to the terminal, U.S. government officials have said, but no decision has been taken on supply.

($1 = 0.8638 euros)

(Reporting by Maja Zuvela in Sarajevo; editing by Jason Neely)