Gasunie reveals more details on Dutch LNG capacity expansion plans

Dutch gas transmission network operator Gasunie has revealed additional information regarding its plans to boost LNG import capacity in the European country.

A Gasunie spokeswoman told LNG Prime recently that the firm was working to further boost the regasification capacity in the Netherlands besides the Gate LNG terminal in Rotterdam and the FSRU-based facility in Eemshaven.

Gasunie owns the Gate terminal along with Vopak. The facility, one of Europe’s main LNG hubs, received a permit in September to add the fourth tank and boost regasification capacity up to 20 bcm per year. The terminal is currently capable to regasify about 16 bcm per year.

Besides Gate, Gasunie also started delivering LNG from the new Eemshaven LNG hub with a capacity of 8 bcm in September. This facility features two chartered FSRUs, namely Exmar’s 26,000-cbm barge-based FSRU Eemshaven LNG and the 170,000-cbm Energos Igloo, owned by a joint venture of asset manager Apollo and US LNG firm NFE.

Terneuzen

Gasunie is now studying to further expand the existing LNG facilities in Eemshaven and in Rotterdam on the basis of technical optimizations, the firm said in a statement on Monday.

“In addition, one or more new (floating) LNG terminals will have to ensure a sufficient supply of gas next year as well. For this, the port of Terneuzen is currently in the picture,” it said.

This study is taking place after consultation with the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate and fits in with the plans climate minister Rob Jetten sent to the Lower House on December 9, Gasunie said.

No gas shortage, prices jump

Gasunie said there would be no physical gas shortages in the Netherlands this winter.

“Prices are high, however, and this is because there is still a structural scarcity in north-western Europe. The consequences of this lead to a price driving effect in our market area,” the firm said.

The pressure on prices can be eased by saving energy, expanding LNG import capacity in the Netherlands and accelerating the energy transition, according to Gasunie.

Gasunie is therefore working, for example, in close cooperation with the Dutch government, to build a national hydrogen network.

However, hydrogen cannot yet replace the demand for natural gas for the next two to three years, the firm noted.

Energy saving remains important but figures show that Dutch households and companies are already doing so substantially due to high prices, it said.

Further expansion of import capacity until winter 2025/2026

“For the short term, realizing additional LNG import capacity is therefore the most appropriate approach to stabilize prices on the gas market,” Gasunie said.

The additional LNG coming in through the Netherlands reduces supply scarcity and could thus contribute to lowering gas prices.

To pursue a decrease in this gas price, Gasunie said it is looking at a temporary further expansion of import capacity until winter 2025/2026.

“These are measures that can be deployed as early as next winter (2023/2024) and preferably before the gas storage filling season starts (April 2023),” it said.

“Gasunie wants to realize this expansion on a temporary basis because of the importance of the transition to a sustainable energy supply. The intention is to use as many parts of the temporary installations as possible for hydrogen transport after a few years,” the company said.

Most Popular

Santos inks LNG supply deal with QatarEnergy’s trading unit

Australian LNG player Santos has signed a mid-term LNG supply deal with QatarEnergy Trading, a unit of state-owned LNG giant QatarEnergy.

Shell’s LNG Canada to ship second cargo

Shell-led LNG Canada is expected to soon ship the second cargo of liquefied natural gas from the Kitimat facility on the west coast of Canada, according to shipping data.

Argentina’s Enarsa to spend $567 million on LNG purchases

Argentina's state-owned LNG importer, Energia Argentina (Enarsa), will spend $570 million to purchase 22 liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes from BP and TotalEnergies this year.

More News Like This

Construction moving forward on German LNG terminal

Dutch gas grid operator Gasunie and German energy firm RWE are moving forward with the construction of the German government-backed onshore LNG import terminal in Brunsbüttel.

CEZ expands LNG business with new shipment

Czech utility CEZ has expanded its LNG business by arranging an entire delivery of US LNG, including the charter of a Knutsen-owned LNG carrier, to the Dutch Eemshaven FSRU-based LNG terminal.

Rotterdam LNG bunkering volumes continue to climb

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering volumes in the Dutch port of Rotterdam continue to rise as the global fleet of LNG-fueled vessels expands.

Rotterdam LNG throughput up in Q1

LNG throughput in the Dutch port of Rotterdam increased in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same quarter last year.