German LNG Terminal Starts EPC Prequalification Race

German LNG Terminal, a joint venture behind the LNG terminal project in Brunsbuettel, Northern Germany, will start the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) prequalification process this month.

It is envisaged that up to four EPC contractor entities will be pre-qualified to enter the tender process.

The winning EPC entity will have approximately three years from ENTP to complete the base scope terminal, inclusive site preparation, waterfront with new jetty, LNG storage and all process equipment and supporting infrastructure for an LNG terminal.

The contractor will have to deliver a fully functional terminal and successfully conduct commissioning tests before hand-over to German LNG Terminal for commercial operations.

The winning bidder(s) will be announced during the first quarter of 2020.

German LNG Terminal is a joint venture of Dutch companies Vopak and Gasunie as well as German company Oiltanking, part of Marquard & Bahls AG. Combining expertise in gas and LNG storage and handling, pipeline and terminal operations, the parties are committed to building Germany’s first LNG terminal.

The joint venture plans to build, own and independently operate a combined import and distribution LNG terminal in Brunsbuettel, Northern Germany. The terminal will combine a number of services such as unloading and loading of LNG ships, temporary storage of LNG, regasification and send out into the German natural gas network and LNG distribution by trucks.

Some of the advantages of Brunsbuettel is its location near the North Sea along the Elbe river, and close to the Kiel Canal. The location provides access to markets in North-West Europe, Scandinavia and the Baltics. Another advantage is Brunsbuettel’s close proximity to the Port of Hamburg, with LNG bunker potential.

The facility’s location is within the ChemCoast Park that includes industrial customers with high energy needs. Moreover, the new terminal has received strong support of both local and regional government.

The German federal government supports the LNG terminal as it contributes to gas supply diversification and provides efficient supply chains for LNG as an alternative fuel. The market’s reaction to the Brunsbuettel terminal project has been positive, according to the JV partners.

Vopak and Gasunie have already successfully joined forces to build and operate the GATE terminal in Rotterdam.