Poland’s gas infrastructure operator Gaz-System has launched a binding open season to verify market interest in the planned FSRU-based LNG terminal in Gdansk Bay.
The state-owned firm said the procedure “aims to verify the interest of market participants in the regasification capacity of the FSRU terminal by submission of binding long-term orders for the use of regasification services.”
Gaz-System said this would justify the implementation of the LNG import project backed by the EU.
Operations could start in 2028
The procedure consists of two phases. The goal of the first phase is to obtain binding orders from the market participants in order to guarantee the reservation of regasification capacity at an “appropriate level” in the second phase, planned in the second quarter of 2023, the firm said.
Submitted orders would allow Gaz-System to start the design phase of the FSRU-based LNG terminal, which also includes a breakwater, a jetty, and an offshore gas pipeline to connect the facility to the domestic grid.
Interested parties should submit the registration documents until December 27, it said.
The FSRU terminal would have a capacity of 6.1 bcm per year, Gaz System said, adding that this could increase depending on market developments and growth in demand for
natural gas in Poland and the region.
According to Gaz-System, the Gdansk LNG facility could start operations in the first half of 2028.
Second LNG import project
Besides this planned FSRU project, Gaz-System operates Poland’s first and only LNG import terminal in Swinoujscie while the country’s dominant gas firm PGNiG is in charge for all the supplies.
Gaz-System is currently expanding this facility, adding a third tank and the second jetty as well as an LNG-to-rail installation.
Once complete in 2023, the terminal will have a total regasification capacity of about 8.3 bcm per year.
US LNG supplies to rise
Poland has significantly increased LNG imports via its terminal in Swinoujscie following PGNiG deals with Qatargas and US LNG player Cheniere.
In addition, PGNiG has this year finalized a deal to buy more liquefied natural gas from US liquefaction plant developer Venture Global LNG.
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.