Italy opens new LNG chapter with FSRU ticking off first small scale cargo

March 10, 2026, by Melisa Cavcic

Italy’s floating regasification terminal operator OLT Offshore LNG Toscana, a subsidiary of Snam, has strengthened its services offering by kicking off commercial small scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) (SSLNG) activities at its floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) moored off the coast of Livorno.

OLT Offshore LNG Toscana has received its first small scale LNG cargo at the FSRU Toscana terminal, marking the operational launch of commercial activities for this new service, which is described as being essential for completing the liquefied natural gas logistics chain in Italy.

The first cargo, amounting to 4,000 cubic meters, was delivered by the Green Zeebrugge small LNG carrier, operated by Axpo. With this first fully Italian bunkering operation, the FSRU Toscana is said to be the first terminal in Italy to offer SSLNG services, perceived as the key to provide concrete support for the decarbonization of the maritime and land transport sectors.

The Italian player underlines that the service provides for the loading of LNG from the terminal onto small LNG carriers, which can then refuel, directly at sea, liquefied natural gas-fueled ships, or discharge the product at coastal storage facilities in major Mediterranean ports.

Snam’s subsidiary claims that the growing interest in the market was also confirmed by the results of the first auctions dedicated to small scale LNG, which took place in October and December 2025, in which a total of 15 slots were allocated. OLT plans to make new slots available in the coming months to meet the needs of operators.

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The FSRU Toscana terminal is ready to receive and handle bio-LNG thanks to its recent International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC), a standard recognized by the European Union (EU) and applicable internationally that guarantees the sustainability and traceability of renewable energy supply chains, in accordance with the RED III Directive.

With its virtual liquefaction service, OLT already allows users to carry out transactions at the PSV and receive LNG in the terminal’s tanks. Thanks to ISCC certification, gas traded as biomethane can be identified as bio-LNG, which is seen to enable significant reductions in CO2 emissions.

This type is also deemed compatible with traditional LNG infrastructure and, together with small scale LNG, interpreted to offer a ready-to-use and realistic solution to support the energy transition.

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By obtaining ISCC certification, OLT claims to confirm its commitment to providing the country with an increasingly flexible and secure energy infrastructure capable of supporting the use of fuels with a reduced environmental impact.

OLT Offshore LNG Toscana owns and manages the FSRU Toscana moored about 22 kilometers off the coast between Livorno and Pisa. The FSRU is connected to the national grid through a 36.5-kilometer-long pipeline, operated and managed by Snam.

About 29.5 kilometers of this pipeline is at sea, 5 kilometers in the floodway, and the remaining 2 kilometers are on dry land. The FSRU Toscana has a maximum authorized regasification capacity of 5 billion standard cubic meters a year.