Yamal LNG Chooses Zeebrugge as Winter Transshipment Hub

Russia’a Yamal LNG and Fluxys Belgium, the operator of Zeebrugge LNG terminal, have signed a 20-year contract for transshipment of up to 8 million tons of LNG per year at the port of Zeebrugge, to support year-round LNG deliveries from Russia’s Yamal Peninsula to Asian-Pacific markets.

During the Arctic summer, Yamal LNG will be delivering its LNG to Asian-Pacific markets via the Northern Sea Route using ice class ARC7 LNG tankers.

In winter, the Arctic LNG tankers will transit via the Zeebrugge LNG terminal where Fluxys LNG will provide services to transship LNG onto conventional vessels used to make final delivery to Asian-Pacific markets via the Suez Canal.

With transshipment services added to its offering, the terminal will provide a complete range of services for large LNG volumes as well as for small-scale use for vessel bunkering and trailer loading. The transshipment services require the construction of a 5th storage tank and additional process facilities.

Pascal De Buck, CEO at Fluxys Belgium, said: ‘‘Thanks to a long-term agreement with such an ambitious LNG supplier we will embark on a new considerable investment for the terminal development. With a transshipment capacity at the terminal of 8 million tonnes of LNG per annum, the port of Zeebrugge will see a significant increase in ship movements.”

Image: MBG