Hoegh LNG Holdings has signed a binding 10-year charter deal with Germany for its 170,000-cbm FSRU Hoegh Gannet, that is expected to arrive in Brunsbuettel this week to start serving the Elbehafen LNG import terminal.
Hoegh said it had signed the deal with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and the vessel would be located at the Elbehafen LNG project in Brunsbuettel, operated by new state-owned firm Deutsche Energy Terminal GmbH.
German energy firm RWE and its subsidiary Elbehafen LNG developed the project in cooperation with its partners Hoegh, Marine Service, Brunsbuettel Ports, as well as the German unit of Gasunie who is responsible for the connecting pipeline.
This is Hoegh’s second 10-year deal with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action after the contract for the FSRU Hoegh Esperanza.
Hoegh Esperanza has already received two cargoes in Wilhelmshaven, the home of Germany’s first FSRU-based terminal.
The Elbehafen LNG terminal will be the third operational FSRU-based terminal in Germany and the second out of five backed by the German government.
Deutsche Regas officially launched its FSRU-based LNG import terminal in Lubmin, Germany’s second such facility and the first private terminal, on Saturday.
Hoegh Gannet to start operations
As previously reported by LNG Prime, the 2018-built FSRU Hoegh Gannet picked up a cargo at Reganosa’s Mugardos LNG import terminal in the Ferrol port.
RWE said the unit would make a short stopover in Rotterdam for import and customs formalities prior to heading to Brunsbuettel.
The firm said at the time that it expected the unit to arrive at the end of this week in Brunsbuettel.
A spokesman for RWE told LNG Prime late on Thursday that the unit would arrive in Brunsbuettel on Friday.
“Immediately after arrival of the FSRU, a commissioning and trial operation phase of several weeks begins,” the spokesman said.
First LNG delivery from Adnoc
Following launch of operations, the FSRU will receive the first LNG delivery from UAE’s Adnoc as part of a deal RWE signed in September last year.
Adnoc agreed under the deal to deliver the LNG shipment from the 6 mtpa Das Island plant off the coast of Abu Dhabi to the Elbehafen LNG terminal.
“According to current plans, the first LNG tanker will moor at the FSRU in Brunsbuettel and unload into the FSRU at the end of January 2023,” the spokesman said.
He added that RWE expects the FSRU to start regular commercial operation in the second half of February.
(Article updated to include comments by a spokesman for RWE.)