LNG

The US Department of Energy has published its latest LNG monthly export data showing that the United Kingdom and France are consolidating their lead over China in the overall list of countries receiving the most cargoes.

March 16 (LNGJ) - Two cargoes are heading for the Netherlands and Belgium next week as European LNG prices decline. The “Golar Celsius”, a vessel with 154,950 cubic metres capacity, is scheduled to deliver a US cargo on March 21 to the Dutch Gate terminal in Rotterdam and which was lifted on March 7 from the Sabine Pass plant in Louisiana.

   The Bahamas-flagged “Rudolf Samoylovich, with capacity of 170,000 cubic metres, is due to berth on March 23 at the Zeebrugge terminal in Belgium with a Russian cargo lifted on March 15 from the Yamal export plant operated by Novatek in northern Siberia.

The Dutch Gate LNG import terminal in Rotterdam, a joint venture between Dutch utility Gasunie and global storage company Royal Dutch Vopak, is proceeding with its open season to gauge market interest in an additional 4 billion cubic metres per annum of capacity.

The Dutch Gate LNG import terminal in Rotterdam, a joint venture between Dutch utility Gasunie and global storage company Royal Dutch Vopak, said it was taking several initiatives to strengthen security of supply of natural gas in Northwest Europe.

Gate Terminal BV, the operating company, said it was now able to continue offering its expanded send-out capability.

The annual capacity is now 12 billion cubic metres on a firm basis and in addition 4 Bcm on an interruptible basis is available in the future.

“The terminal company has started working on a permit application, regulatory conditions and technical feasibility with the aim of launching an open season on tentatively 15 August to increase the firm annual capacity by 4 Bcm,” explained Gate Terminal.

“Such an expansion would include a fourth tank and subject to smooth cooperation of all stakeholders such capacity could become continuously available between 1 October 2025 and 1 October 2026,” added the company.

There are also moves under way to Increase the truck-loading capacity at the facility.

Gate Terminal said that in 2022 the number of truck-loading operations had been higher each month than in the corresponding months of 2021.

“This has resulted in congestion and as a mitigation Gate Terminal has used its spare truck-loading bay,” it said.

“Gate terminal has now decided to go for a more structural solution by building two additional truck-loading bays which are expected to become operational in the second half of 2023,” said the company.

Services

In addition to LNG carrier deliveries, Gate Terminal also offers a portfolio of other services including back-loading services for LNG vessels, ranging from small bunker vessel to large LNG carriers and loading of LNG tank trucks and containers.

The Rotterdam terminal started operations in 2011 and analysts note that its expansion has been slower than other facilities around Europe because of a perceived lack of enthusiasm for gas usage in the Netherlands or in becoming a real gas hub for neighbouring countries.

The nation was only the sixth-largest importer in Europe in 2021, receiving 5.65 million tonnes, well behind Spain and France with 13.82MT and 12.34MT respectively.

Also ahead of the Dutch were the UK (11.04MT), Turkey (9.99MT) and Italy (6.88MT).