Dutch Gate LNG terminal in the Rotterdam port is working above nameplate capacity, as European countries look to slash reliance on Russian gas.
The terminal owned by Vopak and Gasunie has regasified 1.15 billion cubic meters during March, 15 percent above its nameplate capacity, according to Gate’s commercial manager, Stefaan Adriaens.
During the first quarter, the facility has regasified in total 3.09 bcm, Adriaens said.
Launched in September 2011, the terminal 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.
Uniper also recently booked additional capacity at the Rotterdam LNG hub.
Besides these bookings, Gasunie revealed plans to further expand the capacity of the Gate terminal in order to diversify supplies and ensure energy security.
With the new FSRU-based LNG facility in Eemshaven and the expansion of Gate, the LNG capacity in the Netherlands could double from 12 bcm to 24 bcm, Gasunie said.
Gate and other terminals in Europe have seen a significant increase in deliveries since the last year due to a lack of gas supply and high gas prices, attracting LNG cargoes from the US.
In 2021, Gate received 114 cargoes, mostly from the US and Russia. It received 51 LNG cargoes from terminals in the US, compared to 26 shipments in 2020, Adriaens told LNG Prime earlier this year.
LNG deliveries from Russia also increased from 38 cargoes in 2020 to 43 shipments last year.