Poland’s dominant gas firm PGNiG said liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports via the country’s only regasification facility in Swinoujscie rose 17 percent in the third quarter.
According to PGNiG’s preliminary operating report released on Tuesday, LNG imports reached 0.88 billion cubic meters in the July-September period. This compares to 0.75 bcm in the same period last year.
However, LNG imports dropped 1 percent to 2.92 bcm in the first nine months of this year when compared to 2.95 bcm last year.
PGNiG is in charge of all the supplies coming to the import terminal operated by Gaz-System. The facility, which is currently undergoing expansion, received a cargo from Qatar on Monday, marking its 140th delivery since 2016.
The Polish gas firm mostly imports volumes under its long-term deal with Qatargas and Cheniere but also the spot market.
US volumes to rise
PGNiG recently finalized a deal to buy more liquefied natural gas from US liquefaction plant developer Venture Global LNG.
Under the deal, the firm will purchase another 2 million mt on a free on board basis for 20 years.
As a result, PGNiG’s contracted volume from Venture Global LNG will increase to 5.5 million mt or 7.4 bcm of gas per year.
Venture Global’s Calcasieu Pass and Plaquemines LNG export facilities will supply the volumes while the first shipments should begin in 2023.
Besides this contract, PGNiG also signed a charter deal with Norway’s Knutsen for two new 174,000-cbm LNG carriers, boosting the total to four vessels.
South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries already started building the first LNG carrier in this batch.