Turkey’s state-owned natural gas and LNG firm, Botas, is expecting to launch its new FSRU-based LNG import facility in Saros Bay by the end of this month.
Botas said this in a statement posted on its website but it did not provide any additional information regarding the launch.
According to several Turkish media reports on Thursday, Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Donmez said that the FSRU would arrive “soon” in Turkey to start serving the facility on Turkey’s northeastern shore.
Local media reports previously said that the FSRU in question is the 2020-built 180,000-cbm, Vasant 1.
This FSRU was built by Hyundai Heavy for Swan Energy’s delayed Jafrabad LNG import facility in India.
Botas reportedly chartered the unit from the Indian firm to place it at the newly built jetty in Saros Bay.
Prior to its arrival in Saros Bay, Vasant 1 has visited Egypt’s Idku LNG plant earlier this week to load a cargo, according to its AIS data.
This is Turkey’s third FSRU-based LNG terminal and the second for Botas that already operates the Dortyol facility, served by the 170,000-cbm Ertugrul Gazi, in the southern province of Hatay.
In addition to Ertugrul Gazi, there is also one other FSRU operating in Turkey at the privately-owned Etki terminal in Aliaga, Izmir. The 170,000-cbm Turquoise belongs to Pardus Energy.
Besides these FSRUs, Botas also operates the Marmara Ereglisi onshore terminal while Egegaz operates the Izmir Aliaga LNG facility.
Turkey is increasing its LNG import capacity to boost its energy security and to become an international gas hub.
Botas recently signed a deal with Bulgaria’s Bulgargaz, allowing it access to its LNG import terminals and the Turkish grid.
The duration of the agreement is 13 years and includes a gas transfer of up to 1.5 billion cubic meters per year, according to Botas.