Lithuania’s LNG terminal operator KN has won a contract from Italian energy firm Snam to help with the launch of the FSRU-based LNG import terminal in the port of Piombino.
KN revealed in a statement on Friday it had been chosen by Snam FSRU Italia to cooperate in the start-up of the LNG terminal project.
Moreover, KN said it will support Snam in the FSRU installation and subsequent commissioning and testing of the floating LNG terminal.
The new LNG terminal in Tuscany, in the province of Livorno and the west coast port of Piombino, is a strategic project to help ensuring country’s energy needs, increasing security of supply and diversification, the firm said.
KN did not provide information regarding the timeline of the project or other details.
Snam purchased FSRU Golar Tundra from Golar LNG last year for $350 million as part of Italy’s plans to replace Russian pipeline gas and strengthen energy security.
It previously said that it expects the Piombino FSRU-based terminal to reach commercial operation in May 2023.
The 170,000-cbm vessel Golar Tundra can operate both as an LNG carrier and as an FSRU, and it has a continuous regasification capacity of 5 billion cubic meters per year.
LNG Prime reported on February 21 that the FSRU departed Keppel’s yard in Singapore.
Keppel, CoolCo, and Golar LNG prepared the unit at Keppel Shipyard ahead of its job in Piombino. The FSRU now also has Snam’s logo.
According to its AIS data, the vessel was on Friday heading toward the Suez Canal where it is expected to arrive next week.
Growing demand
Prior to this deal, KN secured a contract from German energy firm Uniper to provide operational services for the FSRU-based LNG import facility in Wilhelmshaven.
This is Germany’s first operational LNG import facility.
According to KN, the company has up to date contributed to more than ten different LNG projects around the world.
Currently KN operates LNG terminals in Lithuania, Brazil and provides commercial LNG terminal operator services in Germany.
Darius Šilenskis, CEO of KN, sees “growing opportunities” for the company to take part in international LNG projects.
“Before the Russian invasion to Ukraine only six out of twenty-three potential LNG terminal projects in Europe were likely to be built. However, as the war continued – the number of such projects has almost tripled to seventeen,” he said in the statement.
He said that the firm continues to receive enquiries from such project developers, whether for advisory, operational or co-investment activities.
“Therefore, such increase in the demand for LNG terminal development in Europe opens up even more opportunities for us to utilize our existing knowledge and competences in the new international LNG projects,” he said.