The Lithuanian authorities intend to create a diversified gas market in the country by 2020, which would eliminate Russia's monopoly on gas supplies to the Baltic state, the Delfi web portal said on Thursday, quoting the country's energy minister.

Speaking during an international energy conference in Vilnius, Arvydas Sekmokas said Lithuanian energy market operator Baltpool had already made proposals to gas company Lietuvos dujos, in which Russian energy giant Gazprom owns a 37 percent stake.

If Lithuania had a diversified energy market, it would speed up the integration of Lithuania's and Poland's gas transportation networks, he said.

Jurgis Vilemas from Lithuania's Laboratory for Complex Energy Research said the integration of the two countries' pipelines was very important for Lithuania as Poland was due to begin to supply gas to some European states within the next 10 years.

In April, large shale gas reserves were discovered in Poland. U.S. energy company ConocoPhillips is expected to begin exploration of the reserves in May.

VILNIUS, August 26 (RIA Novosti)