Flogas Britain, a leading UK supplier of LNG by truck, is also continuing to be a top shipper of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and has just been granted planning permission to construct a gas pipeline from Bristol Port in southwest England into the nation’s largest above-ground LPG storage terminal at nearby Avonmouth.
Despite LPG not being as clean a fuel as LNG, the global annual LPG market is still growing on a global basis.
Trade statistics show that LPG’s global market revenue was valued at around $134 billion in 2021 and is forecast to grow and to be worth over $177Bln a year through 2028 with a compound annual growth rate of 4.8 percent.
The largest UK LNG import destination is Milford Haven in Wales and it also imports LPG in smaller vessels than the huge LNG carriers arriving at the South Hook and Dragon terminals.
The next scheduled LPG delivery at Milford Haven is on October 19 on board the 38,950 cubic metres capacity LPG tanker, the “Hourai Maru”, and sourced from the Norwegian refinery at Mongstad, according to shipping data.
Largest in UK
The Flogas Avonmouth Storage facility is the largest of its kind in the UK, with the capacity to store 34,564 tonnes of LPG.
Formerly owned by National Grid Plc, operator of the Grain LNG terminal near London, the Avonmouth facility was previously only able to store LNG. However, work is currently underway to convert it to an LPG facility.
“Running safely underground and out of site, the twin-pipeline will vastly increase the availability of LPG, enabling up to 20,000 tonnes of commodity to be safely and securely discharged from a ship in 24 hours,” explained Flogas.
Flogas said that once complete, the LPG pipeline would link the UK to a diverse, global supply of off-grid gas, providing security of supply and enhancing affordability for off-grid commercial and residential customers.
Flogas, a subsidiary of DCC Plc, said that with the planning permission now in place, the company was talking to potential partners from across the entire supply chain who want to join Flogas in creating a dependable off-grid fuel supply for the UK.
Off-grid role
Flogas notes that LPG was still the cleanest, most efficient conventional off-grid fuel available, and those transitioning from oil will benefit from significant carbon savings and improved air quality, as it emits far fewer pollutant emissions.
“The granting of planning permission is the final piece in the jigsaw for this ground-breaking project, as we already have the Avonmouth storage facility and agreement in principle from Bristol Port and landowners for the pipeline route,” said Flogas Managing Director Lee Gannon.
“This means we’re now perfectly placed to start talking to prospective partners from across the supply chain who want to join us in this venture,” added Gannon.
“Avonmouth offers an excellent collaborative opportunity, one that will provide important access to the global market and enhance security of supply to our off-grid customers,” he stated.
Gannon added that the next phase of design was currently underway and with completion of construction potentially seen as early as 2025.
