LNG

Dutch utility Gasunie, whose network and assets include over 17,000 kilometres of pipelines in the Netherlands and Germany as well as stakes in Dutch and German LNG import facilities, reported a plunge in first-half earnings as the Dutch continued to show dependence on LNG amid the green obsessions and over-regulation of the European Union.

June 26 (LNGJ) - Gasunie, the Dutch utility and LNG terminals owner in the Netherlands and Germany, has had Diederik Samsom appointed as the Chairman of the Gasunie Supervisory Board by the Dutch Ministry of Finance.

   Samsom is a former leader of the Dutch Labour Party and was the “chef de cabinet” to European Union Commissioner Frans Timmermans from 2019 to 2024. Samsom is an environmental activist and started his career at the radical group Greenpeace where he was campaign manager and joined after studying applied physics at Delft University of Technology.

March 11 (LNGJ) - Air Liquide of France and Vopak of the Netherlands, both prominent participants in the LNG business, have signed a accord to collaborate on the development and operation of infrastructure for ammonia imports and hydrogen distribution in Singapore. “Ammonia is considered as one of the low-carbon fuels for power generation and the maritime industry. As a hydrogen carrier, it is one of the most efficient ways to store and transport hydrogen,” a joint statement said.

   “As such, the parties will study and explore the joint development of low-carbon ammonia supply chains in Singapore, including the potential development of ammonia cracking facilities, associated ammonia storage and handling infrastructure at Vopak’s Banyan terminal,” they added.

Feb 14 (LNGJ) - Royal Vopak, the Dutch global storage company, reported higher annual and fourth-quarter net profits and revenues amid progress on liquefied natural gas projects. Vopak posted revenues for 2023 of €1.42 billion ($1.57Bln) compared with €1.36Bln in 2022. “We expanded our open-access LNG capacity in the Netherlands to support energy security, strengthened our leading position in India and solidified our leading industrial terminal position with investments,” Vopak said.

   Excluding exceptional items, Vopak reported annual net profits of €412.9 million compared with €294.4M in the previous year and fourth-quarter net profits came to €105 million versus €88.5M in the same three months of 2022. “Growth across most of the business units led to a healthy proportional occupancy of 91 percent and Ebitda of €964M which is a record result for Vopak leading to a 9 percent year-on-year increase,” said Chairman and Chief Executive Dick Richelle. “We successfully completed the divestment of three chemical terminals in Rotterdam and a chemical distribution terminal in Savannah in the United States. We continued to grow our base in industrial and gas terminals with expansion in China, the US, India and the Netherlands,” Richelle added.

Feb 12 (LNGJ) - Three cargoes are heading for the Netherlands and Germany in the next week. The “Grace Emilia” with 173,955 cubic metres capacity is scheduled to deliver a US cargo to the Dutch Gate terminal in Rotterdam on February 16, according to shipping data. The shipment was loaded on February 4 at the Cove Point plant in Maryland.

   The “Alicante Knusten” with 174,000 cubic metres capacity is due to deliver a US cargo on February 17 to the Rotterdam terminal and which was loaded on February 2 at the Sabine Pass export plant in Louisiana. The carrier “Castillo De Caldelas” with capacity of 176,300 cubic metres is scheduled to discharge a shipment on February 19 at the German import terminal at the North Sea port of Wilhelmshaven. The cargo was lifted on February 2 from the Sabine Pass plant.

KPI OceanConnect, the international maritime fuel provider, has cooperated with Dutch LNG bunkering player Titan Clean Energy to re-fuel a Pure Car and Truck Carrier for the first time at the northwest German port of Emden near the North Sea coast of East Frisia.

The PCTC vessel is named “Emden” after the port and is owned by SFL Corp., the Hamilton, Bermuda-based shipping company listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

“The success of the operation performed by Titan with the collaboration of KPI OceanConnect and SFL, highlights the flexibility and efficiency of all parties, and their shared commitment to ensuring a smooth bunkering process,” said a statement.

The three companies said they collectively recognised LNG as “a crucial component” of the future fuel mix for the maritime industry.

China newbuild

The LNG dual-fuel PCTC was delivered in September 2023 from the Chinese shipbuilders Guangzhou Shipbuilding International Co.

The vessel has a total length of 200 metres is 38 metres at the beam and has a design draft of 8.6 metres and a speed of 19 knots. The “Emden” has 13 decks and can carry about 7,000 cars.

“We are incredibly proud of the trust displayed in us by a forward-thinking owner such as SFL, and delighted to have partnered with a world-class supplier, Titan, to complete this supply of 3,000 cubic metres of LNG,” said Jesper Sørensen, Global Head of Alternative Fuels at KPI OceanConnect.

“This significant achievement underscores KPI OceanConnect's unwavering commitment to supporting the growing role of LNG in the shipping industry's energy transition,” Sørensen added.

“The operation marks our inaugural LNG deal for a car carrier - testament to the company's dedication to advancing sustainability through partnerships up and down the supply chain,” stated Sørensen.

Michael Schaap, Commercial Director of Amsterdam-based Titan, noted that demand for LNG was rising and becoming a mainstream fuel since it is widely available and enables ship operators to reduce emissions now.

“This operation highlights our commitment to consistently serve our clients as a trustworthy provider of cleaner fuels and we look forward to continuing to enhance our LNG and bio-LNG bunkering capabilities as the market grows,” Schaap added.

Dec 1 (LNGJ) - Royal Vopak, the world’s leading independent tank storage company, has completed the acquisition of a 50 percent shareholding in the second LNG import facility in the Netherlands, located at Eemshaven in Groningen. The facility was launched in September 2022 by Dutch utility Gasunie, Vopak’s partner in the Rotterdam LNG terminal. “Gasunie and Vopak are working to increase the capacity further towards 10 billion cubic metres (from 8 Bcm per year), highlighting the commitment of the partners to jointly develop and operate open-access LNG infrastructure and contribute to the energy security of Europe,” said Vopak.

   The total investment by Vopak to acquire the 50 percent of the EemsEnergy Terminal company is just above €80 million ($87.4M). Vopak has also completed the sale of its three chemical terminals in Rotterdam, the Botlek, TTR and Chemiehaven facilities, to Infracapital for a total purchase price of €407M. “Total cash receipt net of transaction costs and net debt items at closing is €372M,” the company said.

Nov 22 (LNGJ) - LNG cargoes are heading for Belgium and the Netherlands over the next week. The vessel “Maran Gas Troy” with 159,800 of capacity is scheduled to berth with a US cargo on November 23 at the Belgian import terminal at Zeebrugge. The shipment was lifted on November 10 from the Sabine Pass plant in Louisiana, according to shipping data. A Russian delivery is then scheduled at Zeebrugge on November 26 onboard the carrier “Boris Davydov” with 172,000 cubic metres capacity. The cargo was loaded on November 20 at the Sabetta terminal on the Yamal Peninsula of northern Siberia.

   A third cargo is then due at Zeebrugge on November 29 from Angola on the vessel “Sonangol Benguela” with 160,500 metres of capacity. The volumes were lifted on November 13 from the Soyo export plant in the southwest African nation. Two cargoes are heading for the Netherlands from Texas. The “Adamastos” with 174,100 cubic metres of capacity is scheduled to arrive at November 25 at the Eemshaven facility in Groningen with a cargo from the Corpus Christi plant in Texas lifted on November 10. The carrier “WilPride” with 156,000 cubic metres capacity will discharge a Texas cargo on November 29 at the Gate terminal in Rotterdam. The volumes were loaded at Corpus Christi on November 13.

Nov 10 (LNGJ) - Four cargoes are heading for the European Union in the next couple of weeks from Qatar, Trinidad and the US. The Qatari Q-Flex vessel “Al Karaana” with 205,990 cubic metres capacity will berth at Zeebrugge on November 15 with volumes from Ras Laffan lifted on October 29. The “BW Cassia” with 170,8000 cubic metres capacity will discharge a Trinidad cargo on November 15 at the Eemshaven terminal in Groningen, according to shipping data. The volumes were lifted on October 29 from the Caribbean plant at Point Fortin.

   The carrier “Isabella” with 174,130 cubic metres of capacity is scheduled to discharge a US cargo on November 19 at the Dutch Gate terminal in Rotterdam. The cargo was lifted on November 7 from the Sabine Pass plant in Louisiana. Germany will receive a cargo on November 23 at the North Sea port of Wilhelmshaven on board the carrier “Adriano Knutsen” with 179,980 cubic metres of capacity. The volumes were loaded on November 7 at the Corpus Christi plant in Texas.

Oct 26 (LNGJ) - The first November LNG cargoes are heading for the UK and the Netherlands. The “Methane Patricia Camila” is scheduled to arrive on November 1 at the UK Dragon import terminal at the Welsh port of Milford Haven, according to shipping data. The vessel, which has 167,415 cubic metres of capacity, lifted the cargo on October 6 from the Pampa Melchorita plant in Peru.

   The “Woodside Rees Withers” with 173,400 cubic metres capacity is due to unload a US shipment on November 1 at the Dutch Gate terminal in Rotterdam. The cargo was lifted on October 19 from the Corpus Christi plant in Texas.