Ørsted sells LNG business to Glencore

Danish renewable energy company Ørsted has signed an agreement to divest its liquefied natural gas (LNG) business to natural resources company Glencore.

In December 2007, Ørsted entered into a long-term agreement with the Dutch LNG regasification terminal Gate in Rotterdam regarding the right to use 3 billion cubic metres of annual regasification capacity from 2011 to 2031, Ørsted noted in its statement on Thursday.

Today, Ørsted’s LNG business consists of the long-term regasification capacity agreement with the Gate terminal in Rotterdam and five LNG purchase agreements.

Even though Ørsted’s LNG team has performed well during the last few years, the business has been loss-making and is projected to remain so for years to come, the company said, adding that further financial improvements would require further contractual commitments.

With Ørsted’s expansion in renewable energy, it is clear that LNG trading will not be a part of Ørsted’s future core business, and it is therefore being divested, the company said.

The transaction entails a payment from Ørsted to Glencore and will result in a loss that exceeds its current provision related to the LNG activities.

Completion of the transaction is dependent on the fulfillment of a number of conditions and is expected to take place in the summer of 2020.