GLE urges European LNG import terminals transformation

Reganosa’s facility in Mugardos on Wednesday hosted a meeting of Gas LNG Europe (GLE), the European business organization, analyzing the future of the liquefied natural gas sector. 

Distribution of LNG on a small scale, transparency of the gas market and making gas the transition fuel to the generalization of renewable energy have been recognized as the three major challenges for the European gas companies, Reganosa said in a statement following the meeting.

Directors of 16 companies, operating 90 percent of European regasification capacity, have agreed a joint line of work, under which the regasification facilities will be transformed into distribution centers of LNG on a small scale level.

This includes the supply of LNG as marine fuel with the aim to reduce emissions in the shipping sector, the statement reads.

The president of GLE, Win Groenindijk, said that the progress of the sector to the new environment has already begun, because “our plants are becoming LNG distribution centers also retaining its conventional role, which remains vital for the gas system.”

GLE also expects natural gas to be consolidated as the transition fuel towards “decarbonisation” and as the backup fuel once the full implementation of renewable energies has been achieved.

The meeting also stressed the unified criteria to enhance the transparency in the gas market.