LNG

Gaztransport and Technigaz (GTT), the French LNG storage technology company, has increased its annual list of patent applications made to the Patent and Trademark Office in France, l’Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle.

The GTT group said it filed a total of 64 patents in 2023, an increase compared with 2022, thus maintaining its position as a technological leader in the category of intermediate-sized enterprises (ETIs) in France.

With 61 patents filed with the INPI, GTT said it secured the second position in the 2023 INPI ranking of patent-filing ETIs.

GTT also filed three more patents with the European Patent Office (EPO) in 2023.

Broadening technology

The group’s order book has designs for GTT storage and conventional carriers and containment tanks for LNG-powered vessels.

GTT’s earnings come from its technology licensing, hence the importance of the patents pipeline.

“Over the past decade, GTT's technological solutions have played a significant role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from LNG carriers and optimizing the energy performance of its ship-owner clients,” explained the Paris-based company.

GTT’s core business has been centred around designs for tanks such as the Mark III membrane containment system.

However, GTT said it was now implementing an “ambitious innovation roadmap” in its adjacent markets and in its digital activities, as well as in the field of “zero-carbon” solutions at the subsidiary Elogen.

“With 61 patents filed with INPI and three patents filed with the European Patent Office, 2023 confirms the group's position of excellence in innovation and R&D and underlines GTT's technological stance,” said Philippe Berterottière, Chairman and Chief Executive of GTT.

“I would like to extend my congratulations to Soitec for claiming the top spot in 2023 with 62 patents filed in France, and I am pleased to witness the dynamic technological innovation among French mid-sized companies,” stated Berterottière.

He was referring to France's Soitec SA, a company that is involved in the microelectronics industry, designing and manufacturing innovative semiconductor materials.

It was also previously well known for licensing the patents for organisations such as French Atomic Energy Commission.

Gaztransport and Technigaz (GTT), the French maritime LNG storage technology company, has named Jean-Baptiste Choimet to the position of Chief Executive of GTT as part of a new strategy to adopt more green policy governance.

GTT said that Choimet was scheduled to take up his post on June 12, 2024.

Aged 42, Choimet is a graduate of one of France’s grande école, the Ecole Polytechnique, and is a graduate in Advanced Chemical Engineering Practice from Cambridge University in England.

Jean-Baptiste Choimet joined the GTT group in 2020 and became Managing Director of Elogen, a subsidiary of the Group specializing in design and manufacturing of electrolysers to produce green hydrogen.

Background

Hydrogen energy has gathered substantial support from industry, government and the public to position it as a pivotal future fuel source.

However, its commercial realisation faces significant hurdles, including slow infrastructure growth and the high cost of producing clean hydrogen solely from renewable energy sources like wind and solar.

In his earlier career, Choimet also contributed to the development of the Dunkirk LNG terminal project by French utilty EDF before joining French banking group Société Générale to create the LNG trading desk.

In 2012, he joined French LNG engineering company Technip, where he held commercial functions and worked on major LNG projects in Australia and Russia.

He joined the Bouygues Construction group in 2019 where he oversaw operations for the deployment of telecoms networks.

GTT said that the decision to appoint Choimet to replace Philippe Berterottière, the currently CEO, was taken “unanimously by the Board of GTT and “as the culmination of a rigorous selection process” led by the Appointments and Remuneration Committee, chaired by Catherine Ronge.

“Furthermore, so that GTT can continue to benefit from the experience and commitment of Philippe Berterottière to the success of the group, the Board of will renew the latter in his role as Chairman of the Board for the remaining period of his term of office as director,” GTT explained.

Paris-based GTT stated that these decisions were part of the separation of the functions of Chairman and CEO decided by the GTT Board of Directors on February 17, 2022.

“The new governance of the GTT group will take effect on June 12, 2024,” GTT said.

Catherine Ronge, head of the nominations and committee, said that as part of a demanding process initiated several months ago, the committee had reviewed several high-quality applications.

“The managerial and professional skills, particularly in the key areas of LNG and hydrogen, the personal qualities and achievements of Jean-Baptiste Choimet in the General Management of Elogen were assessed by the Board as particularly in line with GTT's requirements and the group's development strategy,” Ronge declared.

“Jean-Baptiste Choimet's sustained involvement with the Group and its teams will constitute an essential asset to ensure a seamless transition, within the framework of the new governance of the GTT group,” she added.

Strategy

Outgoing CEO Berterottière said he was proud of the ambitious development strategy pursued by the GTT group, both in its core business and in its new markets.

“Faithful to its purpose, GTT has been able to initiate an in-depth transformation to support its clients in facing their future challenges and contribute to building, with them, a sustainable world,” stated Berterottière.

“I am delighted with the appointment of Jean-Baptiste Choimet to accelerate GTT’s progress in this direction,” he added.

“Together, we share the same passion for technology and innovation, as well as a strong attachment to the GTT group, which I will be proud to continue to serve, alongside him, in my role as President,” added Berterottière.

Future CEO Choimet thanked the board for the trust in him it had demonstrated.

“I look forward to working with all the teams of the GTT group and to being supported in this great mission by Philippe Berterottière, with whom I have worked in trust for more than three years,” declared Choimet.

“I approach this new role with enthusiasm at the head of a group which is today a leading global technological player in the maritime and energy world,” he stated.

“I will be keen to mobilize the teams to continue and accelerate the evolution of the GTT group towards the technologies the world will need in the coming decades,” the incoming CEO added.

European Union LNG market report by EU agency for energy regulators says LNG imports may be near peak

The latest European LNG Market Monitoring Report (MMR) has analysed global and European Union market developments and has recommended further actions to improve transparency, competition and flexibility at European LNG terminals.

Oct 6 (LNGJ) - Ascenz Marorka, the smart-shipping brand of France’s GTT Group, announced the launch of its Real-Time Fleet Performance Monitoring Centre allowing ship-owners, charterers and ship managers to continuously monitor and optimise the performance of their vessels, enabling them to make real-time decisions and react quickly to operational challenges.

   “Bringing together a team of maritime experts with in-depth knowledge in navigation, meteorology, vessel performance management, LNG operations and offshore operations, the centre ensures a holistic approach to optimise fleet operations and help achieve maximum efficiency and excellence,” said Ascenz Marorka with operational offices in Singapore, Iceland and St-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse, southwest of Paris.

McDermott International, the US energy and liquefied natural gas project engineering company, has reached support agreements with more than 75 percent of secured letter of credit facility providers, funded debt creditors and equity holders stemming from its several years of debt woes.

Sept 6 (LNGJ) - Gaztransport and Technigaz (GTT), the French LNG storage technology company, has received an order from Dalian Shipbuilding in Northeast China for the tank designs for two LNG carrier newbuilds. The vessels have been ordered by Sea Jade Investment, a joint venture comprising Hong Kong-based shipping company Wah Kwong as well as China Gas and China Ship Leasing.

   The vessels will each have capacity of 175,000 cubic metres and will be fitted with the GTT Mark III Flex membrane containment system. “The delivery of the vessels is scheduled between the first and the third quarters of 2027,” said GTT.

Gaztransport and Technigaz (GTT), the French LNG storage technology company, and South Korea’s Samsung Heavy Industries have received an approval from UK maritime classification society Lloyd’s Register for a new design of GTT’s three-tank concept.

The new design is for a new LNG carrier featuring GTT’s three-tank Mark III Flex membrane containment system, which will also allow for the reduction in the length of vessels.

This approval in principle is the result of a Joint Development Project initiated in 2022 and aimed at designing a new generation of LNG vessels.

Analysts note that about 30 years ago, GTT upgraded LNG carriers from five storage tanks to four tanks and the company now hopes to bring the market forward with a three-tank LNG carrier.

GTT explained that the three-tank LNG carrier concept permits an increase in LNG cargo capacity and improves maintenance efficiencies through the suppression of one cofferdam, one pump tower and all associated cryogenic equipment.

The Paris-based company added that the design also improved the ratio between the volume of LNG transported and the surface area of the cryogenic liner.

GTT explained that this would make it possible to achieve a boil-off rate as low as 0.080 percent of tank volume per day with the Mark III Flex technology compared with 0.085 percent of the volume per day with the LNG ships currently in operation (of 174,000 cubic metres capacity).

Loading

“In addition, this three-tank LNGC design provides an almost equivalent loading time as a standard four-tank LNGC configuration, thanks to an adapted pump tower,” said the company.

“In addition to these benefits, the removal of a cofferdam, pump tower and its associated equipment reduces the weight of the ship,” it added.

Philippe Berterottière, Chairman and Chief Executive of GTT, said he was proud to be granted this approval from Lloyd’s Register alongside its long-standing ship-building partner SHI.

“We are convinced that this development will benefit all players in the maritime sector by improving the performance of LNG carriers,” stated Berterottière.

Youngkyu Ahn, Vice President of the Shipbuilding Engineering Division of SHI, said the design was expected to increase cargo capacity, minimize operating costs, optimize maintenance efficiency and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.

“This achievement is a remarkable step in the pursuit of even more innovative vessel designs, and it is with conviction that we pledge to continue to explore and develop innovative designs in the future,” he stated.

Lloyd’s Register said it was focused on innovating to improve efficiency and safety and had reached “another important stage” in its collaboration with SHI and GTT.

“We are pleased to award this AiP, which marks an important step forward for LNG owners, who will now have the opportunity to reduce the length of their vessels and maximise cargo-carrying potential with this optimised design,” declared Young-Doo Kim, a senior executive of Lloyd’s Register in North-East Asia.

March 10 (LNGJ) - French liquefied natural gas storage technology firm Gaztranzport and Technigaz (GTT) is closely monitoring the evolution of the situation in Ukraine and Russia in close coordination with its partners. “GTT is taking all necessary measures to protect its employees and stakeholders, in compliance with international sanctions. Under the current context, there is a potential risk for the continuation and proper execution of certain contracts,” said GTT.

   GTT is currently overseeing the design of storage tanks for LNG carriers and gravity-based structures for the Arctic LNG II project on the Gydan Peninsula. “As of December 31, 2021, approximately €100 million ($110M), representing 12 percent of the order book, correspond to units under construction in Russia,” explained GTT. “The realisation of this order book is planned over a period of five years between 2022 and 2026,” it added.

Algeria plans to export liquefied natural gas to Asia and South America after the refurbishment of the Skikda liquefaction and export plant on the North African nation’s Mediterranean coast with new storage facilities and a larger jetty to be constructed by a consortium of Chinese contractors.

Toufik Hakkar, the Chief Executive of state-run Algerian oil and gas company Sonatrach, made the statement during a briefing following the signing on February 17 of an engineering contract for the Skikda LNG upgrade.

Sonatrach signed an agreement with two Chinese engineering companies to build a new LNG storage tank with 150,000 cubic metres capacity and to modernize the jetty and loading facilities.

The contract is with China’s Sinopec Luoyang Engineering Co.  (LPEC) and Sinopec International Petroleum Services Corp. (SIPS).

The work will also include the dismantling of two 20-year-old storage tanks at the Skikda facility.

The Skikda plant currently has 4.5 million tonnes per annum of LNG export capacity.

“The loading capacities and the capacities of the port of Skikda do not make it possible to supply the larger ships serving distant markets,” said Hakkar.

Renovation

“With the renovation of the port and the construction of this new storage tank, we will be able to go to these markets which constitute a strong added value,” explained the CEO, mentioning Asia and South America.

Sonatrach has several contracts for the Skikda plant, including one with TotalEnergies to supply 2 MTPA of LNG to the French market, primarily through the LNG terminal at Fos Cavaou near Marseille.

The agreement also includes the sub-charter of a TotalEnergies LNG carrier to Sonatrach.

The supplies for TotalEnergies are delivered ex-ship (DES) to Fos Cavaou through to December 2023.

“This engineering, procurement and construction contract is worth 25 billion Algerian dinars ($178 million) and will take 40 months to complete,” stated Hakkar.

The contract was signed by Sonatrach’s Director of Central Engineering and Project Management Farredj Aoudjehane and the SIPS General Manager in Algeria, Xu Zhenqiang.

“The agreement marks a new stage of cooperation between Sonatrach and Sinopec International Petroleum Services,” said Xu.

“During the implementation period, Sinopec will do its best to guarantee the completion of this project under the necessary safety conditions and with high quality within the set deadlines,” added the Chinese executive.

National Grid Plc, the owner and operator of Europe’s largest LNG import terminal at the Isle of Grain southeast of London and which came on line 16 years ago, has launched an engineering project to safely extend the life-span of the facility's assets.

New Fortress Energy Inc., the New York-based LNG and power project company, has signed an agreement with a unit of the Mexican Federal Electricity Commission for the supply of regasified LNG from a new import facility within the next three months to two generating plants in the northwest state of Baja California Sur.

Under the agreement, New Fortress will provide the equivalent of an estimated 250,000-500,000 gallons of LNG (20,000-40,000 million British thermal units) per day to CFE’s CTG La Paz and CTG Baja California Sur power plants.

“We are pleased to support CFE’s transition to cleaner, more affordable and reliable energy,” said Wes Edens, Chairman and Chief Executive of New Fortress.

“This contract will help create significant fuel savings and emissions reductions for the benefit of the people of Baja California Sur,” added Edens.

The US company will supply regasified LNG to the plants to replace fuel oil via the company’s onshore receiving terminal facilities being completed in the port of Pichilingue in Baja California Sur.

The terminal is anticipated to come on line and begin the supply of natural gas to CFE in May 2021, though the company has released few details on LNG delivery and storage.

Pichilingue Port's LNG facility, located just north of La Paz, the Baja California Sur state capital, will be the third in Mexico when it enters service.

The two other Mexican LNG terminals are on the Gulf Coast at Altamira and south of Baja California on the Pacific Coast at Manzanillo.

The Pichilingue LNG facility will introduce natural gas to Baja California Sur for power generation for the first time. The state is in the lower part of the Baja California Peninsula and also currently lacks adequate onshore gas infrastructure.

New Fortress has a similar import facility in Jamaica in the Caribbean using floating storage that began operations in 2016 and another project in Puerto Rico.

The company is also working on a venture to supply regasified LNG to a 300 megawatts gas-fired power plant at Puerto Sandino in Nicaragua.