National Grid to close Avonmouth LNG facility

National Grid said it will permanently close UK’s Avonmouth liquefied natural gas storage facility on April 30.

According to a statement by National Grid issued last week, the Avonmouth facility, which is over 40 years old and characterised by “assets approaching the end of their technical life” has experienced several failures of its process and liquefaction plant in recent years.

Most recently, unplanned outages were necessitated in the summer of 2014, December 2014 and February 2015.

“For many years LNG Storage has engaged with customers and stakeholders emphasising the resilience risks and importance of implementing alternative arrangements,” National Grid said.

“As such our decision is that National Grid’s cessation of operations at the Avonmouth LNG Storage facility on 30th April 2016 is seen as the only credible option to minimise disruption to customers and consumers through unplanned failure,” the company added.

LNG World News Staff