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VILNIUS, Dec 27, BNS - Starting its activities in Vilnius, the Energy Security Center has opportunities to become a NATO center in three year, Lithuanian officials have said.

The center, which will focus on the analysis of threats to energy security, will officially start its work as a national center on January 1 at the General Jonas Zemaitis Military Academy. There are hopes that the center will receive NATO's accreditation similar to the Cyber Security Center in Tallinn and another 15 centers providing analysis for NATO in various ally countries.

"We have received encouragements informally. Everybody agrees that it's a good thing. But at the same time they underline that added value needs to be offered. Lithuania has to bring its own experience," Audrius Bruzga, the director of the Economic Security Policy Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told BNS.

"There are hopes we will manage to accredit it to NATO," the diplomat said, adding that willing countries will be able to delegate their representatives.

The center should initially focus on analyzing the situation in Lithuania, including evaluation of the legal base, and present proposals to the government on its improvement. The institution also plans to attract NATO partners to discussions on threats to energy security and measures to reduce it.

The center will have a temporary Lithuanian head, and the permanent head should be selected at the beginning of 2011. Later on, the center will have to be managed by a military officer to be accredited to NATO.

Bruzga underlined that Lithuania would be a suitable place for a NATO Energy Security Center as the country has various experience and is currently carrying out energy reforms.