GDF Suez to Reload Small Scale LNG Carriers at Zeebrugge Terminal

GDF SUEZ continues to develop its small scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) activities in North West Europe following the award by Fluxys of additional berthing and storage capacity long term rights at the Zeebrugge LNG terminal.

GDF SUEZ will have access to these capacities after the completion of the second jetty being constructed by Fluxys (expected in 2015). Those capacities will enable GDF SUEZ to reload small LNG carriers, such as LNG feeders and LNG bunkering vessels that will supply LNG as marine fuel for shipping companies.

LNG as a fuel for ships will develop in the future in a context of increasing pressure on maritime regulatoryconstraints on particle emissions in North Europe, as well as on fuel oil prices. Worldwide potential could reach more than 30 MTPA by 2025. LNG offers financial advantages and has various environmental benefits compared to diesel: CO2 emissions are 15-20% lower, the particulate matter content is 95% lower, the emission of sulphur is reduced by 90% and of NOx by 80%. Also, noise pollution of engines running on LNG is limited.

GDF SUEZ is already developing small scale LNG activities in Europe. Earlier this year, GDF SUEZ and GASNOR signed an LNG sales agreement for the supply of 7.5 TWh over a 12 year period. LNG volumes will be loaded first by trucks, from January 2013. In parallel, the Group is involved in the supply of LNG as fuel for trucks business through its affiliates Electrabel in Belgium, GDF SUEZ LNG Solutions in the Netherlands, and GNVert in France.

GDF SUEZ is one of the global LNG leaders and has a significant presence in regasification terminals around the world. Its LNG portfolio of 16 MTPA is sourced from 6 countries. The Group operates a fleet of 17 LNG carriers. The Group is the main LNG importer in the Atlantic Basin and the 2nd operator of LNG import terminals in Europe. In Western Europe, GDF SUEZ has access to long term regasification capacities in Zeebrugge, Belgium, Isle of Grain, the United Kingdom, Montoir-de-Bretagne and Fos sur-Mer, France.

[mappress]
LNG World News Staff, December 26, 2012