US-based New Fortress Energy (NFE) has signed a five-year charter for the floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) with Gasunie
Starting in Q3 2022, the long-term charter agreement will provide storage and regasification capacity for Gasunie’s new LNG import terminal in the port Eemshaven, the Netherlands. This most recent agreement follows Gasunie’s five-year charter agreement executed in April with Exmar for its FSRU S188, which has a capacity of 600 mmscfd.
The two FSRUs will provide the Eems Energy Terminal with a total capacity of 8 billion cubic metres (bcm) per year of new regasification capacity for northwest Europe. This new terminal capacity will increase energy security for the Netherlands and create sufficient LNG import capacity to meet the country’s gas needs without relying on pipeline imports, including gas from Russia.
A recently launched tender forLNGsupply “has led to overwhelming interest,” said Gasunie in a press statement. “More than 15 parties have so far registered their interest in using the terminal to deliverLNGcargoes, and demand is four times higher than supply. These parties now have until 10 June to convert their interest into a bindingLNGsupply contract. Once the floating facilities from Exmar and NFE are moored in Eemshaven, they will be technically ready, connected to the existing gas network in Eemshaven and then transported to theLNGterminal. Both facilities are expected to be operational this autumn.”
NFE chairman and chief executive Wes Edens noted the added FSRU will increase “LNG import capacity and strengthen the energy security of the Netherlands and surrounding European countries.”
Gasunie executive board member Ulco Vermeulen said, “This new terminal capacity will increase energy security for the Netherlands and northwest Europe and create additional LNG import capacity to reduce dependence on Russian gas. With this expansion of the terminal, we will be able to facilitate the high demand for LNG supply in the market in the next five years.”
The chartered FSRU will provide storage capacity of approximately 170,000 m3of liquefied natural gas with peak regasification capacity of 900 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd). The 170,000-m3-capacity Golar Igloo is one of nine FSRUs in NFE’s fleet. NFE’s FSRU will work in tandem with a third party’s FSRU to provide up to 8 bcm per year of total regas capacity.
The FSRU will provide a core component of Gasunie’s Eems Energy Terminal which will immediately address the urgent energy security needs of the Netherlands and surrounding region as the US-EU Task Force on Energy Security continues to implement the 25 March joint statement by President Joe Biden and EU President Ursula von der Leyen.
