Japan’s city gas supplier Saibu Gas plans to add a third liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage tank at its Hibiki regasification terminal in Kitakyushu.
The firm said in a statement on Tuesday that it has decided to conduct a tender for the capacity expansion at the Hibiki LNG terminal located on the northernmost city on Japan’s Kyushu Island in Fukuoka prefecture.
Besides a 230,000 cbm LNG tank, the expansion includes LNG regasification and truck loading facilities, according to Saibu Gas.
Based on the results of the bidding, a decision on whether or not to proceed with the investment will be made by the end of this year, the firm said.
If Saibu Gas decides to go ahead with the expansion, construction could start in fiscal 2024, or by May 2025, and complete in fiscal 2029.
The capacity expansion of the Hibiki LNG terminal will enable the firm to meet domestic demand for natural gas and further improve the stability of supply, as well as promote its international business.
Saibu Gas said it will continue to “contribute to the realization of further low-carbon and decarbonization in the Kyushu region towards the goal of carbon neutrality in 2050.”
Launched in 2014, the 2.4 mtpa Hibiki LNG terminal currently has two 180,000 cbm LNG tanks, a large LNG jetty and small LPG jetty, five LNG vaporizers, 12 truck loading facilities, and four LPG tanks each with a capacity of 950 tons.
Saibu Gas owns 90 percent in the facility while compatriot utility Kyushu Electric holds 10 percent.
The partners decided in 2021 to build an LNG-fueled power plant at the Hibiki terminal.
In 2021, Saibu Gas also started delivering LNG via ISO containers from the Hibiki terminal to China’s Jusda Energy Technology.