The Czech Republic, in cooperation with CEZ Group, has booked regasification capacity at Gasunie’s LNG import hub in Eemshaven, which will host two floating storage and regasification units.
“I can confirm that Czech Republic, in cooperation with CEZ Group, has reserved capacity at the Eemshaven LNG terminal,” a Gasunie spokesperson told LNG Prime on Tuesday.
The spokesperson did not reveal additional details.
Combined the two FSRUs will have a capacity of about 8 billion cubic meters per year.
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe, such as its neighbor Slovakia that also secured regasified LNG via European terminals.
We contacted CEZ Group for a comment regarding the capacity booking, but we did not receive a reply by the time this article was published.
Gasunie said in May it had started the tendering procedure for market parties interested in transporting LNG from Eemshaven into the European hinterland.
Also, the company will operate the facility, second Dutch LNG import terminal after Gate, under the name “EemsEnergyTerminal”.
Gasunie said at that time that more than 15 parties had registered their interest in using the terminal to deliver LNG cargoes, and demand was four times higher than supply, as European countries look to reduce reliance on Russian gas supplies.
“We are currently finalizing the various bids,” the spokesperson said.
Both of FSRUs to arrive in August
Belgium’s Exmar and Gasunie signed a five-year charter deal for the 120 meters long FSRU S188 in March.
Following a trip from Singapore, this barge-based FSRU arrived in Rotterdam for modification works at the Damen yard.
In addition, Gasunie also signed a charter deal for a larger FSRU with US LNG player New Fortress Energy. The vessel in question is the 174,000-cbm Golar Igloo.
With a planed expansion at Gate and the Eemshaven project, Dutch capacity would double from current 12 bcm to 24 bcm.
The spokesperson said that Gasunie expects both of the FSRUs to arrive at the Eemshaven facility at the end of August.
“We will be in production before next winter 2022,” the spokesperson added.