Dutch Gate terminal in the Rotterdam port, one of Europe’s main LNG hubs, is experiencing minor issues with its gas sendout to the grid.
“Due to operational difficulties the availability of interruptible sendout services has been partially curtailed,” Gate said in a statement released on Monday.
“As a result, the maximum terminal sendout is reduced by 990 MWh/h until further notice,” it said.
Gate, owned by Gasunie and Vopak, has a capacity of 12 bcm or 8.8 mtpa of LNG. It also has three LNG storage tanks with a capacity of 540,000 cbm, and three truck loading bays.
Following modifications and investments, Gate managed to add 4 bcm of capacity on an interruptible basis, it said in July.
Gate also received a permit to add the fourth tank and boost regasification capacity up to 20 bcm per year.
Shell has capacity rights at Gate, along with OMV, Glencore, and Uniper.
Gate’s commercial manager, Stefaan Adriaens, told LNG Prime on Tuesday that the curtailment affects only part of the interruptible sendout services.
According to Adriaens, it equals to about five percent of the recent sendout from the terminal to the grid.
“We are typically sending out 20,000-21,000 MWh/h,” he said.
Gate has this year substantially increased its incoming volumes of LNG as the Netherlands and other European countries such as Germany work on replacing Russian pipeline gas supplies.
In that regard, Gate’s shareholder Gasunie also recently launched the FSRU-based facility in Eemshaven. This LNG hub should reach its full capacity of 8 bcm by January.