Gastrade’s FSRU-based LNG import terminal off Greece’s Alexandroupolis received its first cargo of liquefied natural gas for commissioning purposes on Sunday.
Helped by Svitzer’s tugs, the 2018-built 174,000-cbm LNG carrier, GasLog Hong Kong, docked on Sunday afternoon local time at the 153,600-cbm Alexandroupolis, according to its AIS data.
GasLog Hong Kong has been anchored offshore Alexandroupolis and near the FSRU since Thursday, the data shows.
The LNG carrier, chartered by France’s TotalEnergies, previously picked up a cargo at Sempra’s Cameron LNG plant in Louisiana.
TotalEnergies is a shareholder in Cameron LNG which has a capacity of about 12 mtpa of LNG.
Gastrade confirmed to LNG Prime earlier this week that the FSRU-based LNG import terminal off Alexandroupolis would receive its commissioning cargo this week.
“We will provide further information once STS operations have commenced,” a spokeswoman for Gastrade said.
Last month, Gastrade postponed the arrival of the commissioning cargo at its FSRU-based LNG import terminal due to bad weather.
The firm previously expected to receive the commissioning cargo on January 20.
Greece’s DEPA, who is a Gastrade shareholder, said in a separate statement on February 16 that it brought the commissioning cargo to the FSRU.
“With the arrival of the first commissioning cargo the process of trial tests for the smooth operation of the project is initiated, bringing it even closer to its commercial operation date,” the firm said.
Besides DEPA, Gastrade’s shareholders include founder Copelouzou, DESFA, Bulgartransgaz, and GasLog.
Greece’s first FSRU
Shareholder and Greek LNG shipping firm GasLog told Singapore’s Keppel Offshore & Marine, now Seatrium, in February 2022 to proceed with the conversion of the 2010-built, GasLog Chelsea, to an FSRU.
Seatrium’s yard in Singapore completed the conversion work on the 153,600-cbm Alexandroupolis in November last year.
Greece’s first FSRU arrived in Alexandroupolis from Singapore on December 17 and mooring hook-up was completed on December 23, 2023.
The FSRU is located in the sea of Thrace at a distance of 17.6 km SW from the port of Alexandroupolis and 10 km from the nearest coast of Makri. Also, it is connected to a high-pressure subsea and onshore gas transmission pipeline.
Once operational, the pipeline will deliver natural gas to the Greek transmission system and onwards to the final consumers in Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, North Macedonia, Serbia and further to Moldova and Ukraine to the East and Hungary and Slovakia to the West, Gastrade said.
The Alexandroupolis LNG terminal will have a capacity of 5.5 Bcm.
With this project, Greece will get its first FSRU and the second LNG import facility, adding to DESFA’s import terminal located on the island of Revithoussa.
In addition to this unit, Gastrade is also planning to install a second FSRU offshore Alexandroupolis.