Greece’s gas grid and Revithoussa terminal operator DESFA has signed a deal with Dioriga Gas, a unit of Motor Oil, for the latter’s planned FSRU project in the Gulf of Corinth.
The duo signed on Wednesday the advanced reservation of capacity agreement for the construction of the connections between the FSRU and DESFA’s gas grid, according to a statement.
The gas grid operator would now begin the preparation of studies to build a metering and regulating station with a capacity of 490,000 Nm3 / h (11.76 mn. Nm3/day), which would connect to the FSRU with the grid, it said.
In addition to the FSRU, Dioria Gas plans LNG barge reloading and truck loading facilities, according to DESFA.
DESFA’s CEO Maria Rita Galli said in the statement the deal marks a step forward for a “new gas import infrastructure project that will further enhance the role of Greece as Southeast Europe’s international energy hub.”
“DESFA ensures open access to the national natural gas system, steadily fostering the development of competition in the Greek energy market, with significant benefits for the country, the Greek economy and the final consumer,” Galli said.
Motor Oil previously said it would install the FSRU 1.5 km southwest of the company’s refinery in Corinth, west of Athens.
The firm expects to launch the project with a capacity of up to 2.6 Bcm in 2023.
If the project realizes, Greece would have at least two FSRUs in operation as Gastrade, the developer of the planned Alexandroupolis LNG import facility, also aims to launch its project by 2023.
Gastrade’s LNG import project includes a 170,000-cbm FSRU to be located 17.6 kilometers offshore the town of Alexandroupolis in Northeastern Greece.
DESFA, owned by a consortium led by Italy’s Snam, purchased a 20 percent stake in this project last year.