March 18, 13:01 • 3 minutes reading time
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Gasunie has signed a contract to charter a vessel for five years that will store liquefied natural gas (LNG) and convert it back into gas. It will almost certainly be moored in the Eemshaven. There are also plans for a permanent LNG terminal in the same port area.
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The Netherlands is expected to need much more LNG to become less dependent on Russian natural gas, and this agreement should help with that.
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The floating LNG platform that Gasunie is currently renting is owned by the Belgian shipping company Exmar. These types of platforms are mainly used for the export of LNG to countries where the liquid fuel is not yet widely used, for example for heating houses or power stations.
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More options to import LNG
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Gasunie announced that it would take extra steps to continue to guarantee that enough gas is supplied to the Netherlands and Europe. To this end, there must be more opportunities to import LNG.
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We are crazy behind the scenes to increase the capacity for LNG import
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According to spokesperson Marie-Lou Gregoire of Gasunie, it is an important step that the company has taken.
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‘We are working frantically behind the scenes to increase the capacity for LNG imports. Building a permanent LNG terminal takes a long time, so we were quick to contract the S188.’ The floating platform should already be operational by next autumn. In the Eemshaven there will be installations where the S188 can be inserted and installations with which the gas can be pumped into the network.
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– Conflict with previous tenant S188
The fact that it was possible so quickly is probably also due to a conflict that Exmar had with a customer who had hired the S188. Last year, the customer prematurely terminated the contract with Exmar, which subsequently initiated arbitration proceedings. Apparently the outcome of this is not awaited and the platform is now leased to Gasunie on a long-term basis.
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In addition to a floating facility, Gasunie will also speed up the expansion of LNG capacity on land. Eemshaven is also in the picture there for the construction of an LNG terminal that can process 4 billion cubic meters of gas annually, just as much as the current production in the Groningen field.
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Doubling LNG capacity
Gasunie aims to double the capacity to import LNG. Now that 12 billion cubic meters per year is in the terminals in Rotterdam. That will be expanded to 20 billion in the long term. This doubling can be achieved together with the Eemshaven.
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Who supplies the LNG?
The question then remains where the LNG should come from. Discussions are underway at various levels about this with suppliers in the United States and the Middle East. For example, it was announced on Friday evening that the Ministers of Foreign Trade Schreinemacher and Harbers of Infrastructure and Water Management will discuss LNG supplies with Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Oman. Those visits will take place next week.
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