Croatia’s FSRU-based Krk import facility has received its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo in 2023.
The 2020-built 173,400-cbm LNG carrier, BW Pavilion Aranthera, docked at the 140,000-cbm FSRU on January 10.
Besides being the first LNG shipment in 2023, this is the 52nd LNG cargo for the FSRU-based import facility since the launch of operations in January 2021, according to state-owned terminal operator LNG Croatia.
The ME-GI vessel, owned by BW and chartered by Pavilion Energy, loaded the cargo at Sempra’s Cameron LNG export plant in Louisiana in the third week of December, its AIS data provided by VesselsValue shows.
Prior to arriving at the Croatian FSRU, BW Pavilion Aranthera visited the Sagunto LNG terminal in Spain where it probably unloaded a partial cargo.
LNG Croatia said last month the total volume of natural gas delivered from the FSRU to the gas transmission system exceeded 4 billion cubic meters since the start of operations in January 2021.
The Croatian FSRU mainly receives LNG volumes from the US. It also received shipments from Egypt, Nigeria, Trinidad and Tobago, and reloads from Dunkirk, Zeebrugge, and Barcelona.
European LNG demand spiked last year as European countries look to replace Russian pipeline gas and boost energy security.
Due to high demand, Croatia decided to further increase the capacity of its FSRU-based LNG import terminal.
The capacity of the terminal will rise to 6.1 bcm and the expansion project will cost about 180 million euros ($190 million).
The bigger part of the project includes the construction of a new pipeline from Zlobin to Bosiljevo while the FSRU should get a new regasification module in 2024.