Dutch Gate operating at maximum capacity as US LNG deliveries surge

Dutch Gate terminal in the Rotterdam port reached full sendout in January on the back of high demand and a surge in US LNG deliveries.

Launched in September 2011, the terminal owned by Vopak and Gasunie currently has an annual throughput capacity of 12 bcm of gas per year, but it will boost it to 13.5 bcm from 2024 as part of a deal with Germany’s Uniper.

Gate and other terminals in Europe have seen a significant increase in deliveries in the last two months due to a lack of gas supply and high gas prices, attracting LNG cargoes from the US.

“January sendout utilization reached 100 percent. Both in October and November it was 70 percent, while in December sendout utilization stood at 90 percent,” Gate’s commercial manager, Stefaan Adriaens, told LNG Prime on Thursday.

In January, Gate unloaded in total 14 LNG cargoes out of which seven came from the US and six from Russia. Sendout hit about 1.01 bcm last month but the records continue into February.

“Today we have record nominated hourly volumes of 18,282 MWh per hour,” Adriaens said.

US LNG cargoes almost doubled in 2021

Gate received 51 LNG cargoes from terminals in the US last year. This compares to 26 shipments in 2020.

LNG deliveries from Russia also increased from 38 cargoes in 2020 to 43 shipments last year, according to Adriaens.

Other sources include Angola, Algeria, Belgium, Equatorial Guinea, France, Nigeria, Peru, Qatar, Spain, and Trinidad and Tobago.

In total, Gate unloaded 113 ships, compared to 93 in the prior year. Including reloads, the facility handled 244 ships, up by 29 vessels when compared to 2020.

Detailed engineering for new truck loading bays

Besides ships, LNG truck loading operations continue to surge at the only Dutch LNG import facility.

Gate’s three truck loading bays delivered LNG to 8501 trucks last year, compared to 5409 in the year before. Also, in January these operations reached 776.

Due to the high demand for such service, Gate shareholders Vopak and Gasunie have approved funds to start the detailed engineering for truck loading bays 4 and 5, according to Adriaens.

“This will give the necessary information to decide on a final investment decision (FID) in April 2022,” he said.

Subject to a positive FID, these bays would become available in July 2023.

“That will be a relief for the market as the existing bays are extensively used without spare at this moment,” he said.

Most Popular

Worley gets full notice to proceed on first phase of CP2 LNG project

Australian engineering firm Worley has received a full notice to proceed from US LNG exporter Venture Global LNG under its reimbursable EPC contract for the first phase of the CP2 LNG project in Louisiana.

Venture Global’s Plaquemines LNG to commission fourth tank

US LNG exporter Venture Global LNG has received approval from the US FERC to commission the fourth storage tank with LNG at its Plaquemines plant in Louisiana.

MOL’s LNG carrier fleet stands at 104 vessels

MOL's large fleet of liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers had 104 vessels as of the end of June this year.

More News Like This

Netherlands was top destination for US LNG cargoes in May

Dutch Gate and Eemshaven LNG terminals were the top destinations for US liquefied natural gas cargoes in May, according to the Department of Energy’s LNG monthly report.

TotalEnergies, CMA CGM to launch LNG bunkering JV

French energy giant TotalEnergies and compatriot shipping firm CMA CGM have signed a deal to develop a 50/50 logistics joint venture dedicated to the implementation and operation of an LNG bunkering supply solution at the Dutch port of Rotterdam.

Rotterdam LNG throughput climbs 9 percent

LNG throughput in the Dutch port of Rotterdam increased 9 percent in the first six months of 2025 compared to the same period last year.

Dutch Eemshaven LNG terminal boosts volumes in H1

The FSRU-based LNG import facility in the Dutch port of Eemshaven, owned by Gasunie and Vopak, received more LNG in the first half of this year compared to last year, with most of the supplies coming from the US.