Vrankovic accused the local branch of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) of instigating an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty.
The government recently announced plans for building a LNG terminal near the town of Omisalj on the northern Adriatic island of Krk.
Vrankovic said that the project was useful and worth building, while local SDP members criticised it demanding that the views of experts and local authorities and safety conditions be taken into consideration in selecting a site.
Vrankovic said that the project would open up new development possibilities.
He said that the local community would be able to use gas as a source of energy, and added that a fish market could be opened and that all that would create more jobs.
INA oil company expert Stevo Kojundzic said that a team of experts had chosen Omisalj as the best solution. He dismissed criticism from nongovernmental organisations, accusing them of spreading hysteria.
According to him, the first stage of the project should be completed in 2011, and the second by 2013. The entire project is estimated at 700 million euros.
INA is currently preparing partnership contracts for this project with five companies from Germany, Austria, France and Slovenia.