State interests for the Czech Republic working with domestic energy company CEZ Group have acquired a stake in two incoming floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) terminals being installed by Gasunie in The Netherlands.

The country’s Minister of Industry and Trade Jozef Sikela said on Twitter on Friday: “We have succeeded in significantly strengthening energy security.

“In cooperation with the CEZ Group, we acquired part of the capacity in the planned LNG terminal in the Netherlands,” the Minister said.

“This step will help us provide enough gas for our citizens and companies and reduce energy dependence on Russia.”

No details of the size of the capacity stake were given.

The landlocked Czech Republic, which is bordered by Austria, Germany, Poland and Slovakia, currently sources almost all of its gas from Russia.

The two FSRUs have already arrived in the Netherlands to take up their new roles of bolstering Europe’s gas import capabilities as it moves away from Russian gas.

Both are expected to be operational in the next few months.

Belgian shipowner Exmar’s barge-based, 25,000-cbm FSRU S188 (built 2017) will be moored in the port of Eemshaven in the north of the country.

The mini FSRU has been chartered by Dutch gas buyer Gasunie for five years.

A second full-size FSRU, the 170,000-cbm Golar Igloo (built 2014) which is controlled by US-listed New Fortress Energy, is also heading to Eemshaven to start a similar length charter with Gasunie.

The FSRU pair are expected to add a total capacity of eight billion cbm of gas per year.

European gas buyers and state entities have been scrambling to secure any remaining FSRU capacity. But Gasunie was quick off the market securing two existing units which were unfixed.