The first out of two chartered floating storage and regasification units has arrived in the Dutch port of Eemshaven where it will soon start serving Gasunie’s new LNG import hub.
New Fortress Energy’s 170,000-cbm Golar Igloo entered the Eemshaven port, operated by Groningen Seaports, on Sunday afternoon, according to its AIS data.
Gasunie confirmed the arrival of the vessel as well.
To remind, a Gasunie spokeswoman told LNG Prime on August 29 that NFE’s FSRU would arrive in Eemshaven on September 4, while Exmar’s 26,000-cbm barge-based FSRU Eemshaven LNG is expected in Eemshaven on September 7.
Gasunie would hold an official ceremony to welcome the two FSRUs and the first LNG shipment on September 8, attended by officials from Gasunie, the Czech Prime Minister, and others, the spokeswoman said.
EemsEnergyTerminal, the first FSRU-based facility in the Netherlands, is being prepared in record time so it can welcome the two units, as the Netherlands and other European countries such as Germany look to slash reliance on Russian pipeline gas and boost energy security.
LNG giant Shell booked 4 bcm while Czech firm ČEZ took 3 bcm of the terminal’s total capacity. France’s Engie secured the remaining 1 bcm of capacity.
The Eemshaven hub is the second LNG import facility in the Netherlands after the Gate terminal in Rotterdam, which is owned by Gasunie and Vopak.
With an expansion at the Gate terminal in Rotterdam and the Eemshaven project, Dutch capacity will double from current 12 bcm to 24 bcm.