New Zealand’s LNG import plans include FSRU and FSU options

Last year, New Zealand’s government revealed plans to start importing LNG, with options including the former Marsden Point oil refinery, the Port of Taranaki, and an offshore option.

The government of New Zealand announced last week that it plans to launch a formal procurement process for an LNG import facility, as the country’s energy system is facing a fuel shortage, brought about in part through a faster-than-expected decline in domestic natural gas reserves.

Taranaki region

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), on behalf of the New Zealand government, has just released a registration of interest (ROI) and a project information memorandum (PIM) for LNG import facility services.

There will be two supplier briefings for interested parties – on the 14th and 15th of October (New Zealand time).

LNG Prime contacted MBIE’s LNG Project Team, which is responsible for the process, to provide further details on the LNG import options and the location of the facility.

“We are not pre-judging what sort of technical solution would be best to employ in a New Zealand setting,” the LNG Project Team said in emailed comments.

“As noted in the PIM, the most likely location for an LNG facility in New Zealand is in the Taranaki region, and potentially in Port Taranaki itself. Feasibility studies undertaken thus far have not identified a single preferred location for an import facility,” they said.

“It may be that the best solution to deploy is an FSRU, or it might be that an FSU with onshore regasification facilities is best,” according to the LNG Project Team.

“The documents include the possibility of an accelerated delivery solution (ADS) being deployed – in time for the Southern hemisphere winter of 2027. For a proposal to be considered as a valid ADS option, proponents must demonstrate they are able to provide at least 12 PJs throughput over any three-month period,” they said.