AGA and Eneco enable first small scale LNG reload at the Gate terminal Rotterdam
Eneco and AGA Gas AB have signed an agreement for small scale LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) vessel reloads which will take place at the Gate terminal in Rotterdam. This marks the start of ‘small scale LNG’, from the largest harbour in the Netherlands and surrounding area, opening up new market opportunities for LNG as f.i. a clean alternative transportation fuel. The first reload is planned for September/ October 2013. This small scale LNG reload will be the first reload conducted at the Gate terminal. Gate terminal recently completed the additional investments to facilitate their customers to berth small vessels and reload LNG in order to support the small scale market developments. The LNG will be utilized in the Scandinavian Market for small scale LNG applications. Ship owner and operator Anthony Veder will transport the LNG to AGAs’ terminal in Nynäshamn in Sweden. Anthony Veder is dedicated to the transport of liquefied gasses and is a frontrunner in developing and operating small scale LNG carriers.
For Eneco this deal with AGA is a step forward in the small scale LNG business. Small scale LNG contributes to a more sustainable transportation sector. Eneco is a 1 bcm capacity holder at the Gate terminal and is expecting to expand its small scale LNG business the next coming years.
AGA is the leading industrial gas and small scale LNG company in Northern Europe. AGA’s LNG-terminal in Nynäshamn is the first LNG terminal in the Baltic Sea and also Sweden’s largest terminal for LNG import. This terminal came into operation about two years ago and has a storage capacity of 20,000 m3. The LNG-terminal is an interim storage for the liquid natural gas which is shipped on to customers by truck or to the pipeline as gas. In addition AGA is owner and operator of Seagas, the first fuelling vessel which supplies LNG ship to ship to M/S Viking Grace, the new cruise-ship of Viking Line.
LNG for clean transport
Small scale LNG refers to LNG as a fuel for applications, like trucks, maritime vessels and industrial applications. LNG is replacing traditional fuels, like fuel oil or LPG (Liquefied Petrol Gas). LNG provides significant environmental benefits in comparison to traditional maritime fuel; carbon dioxide emissions are reduced by 20-30 per cent, emissions from sulfur are completely removed and nitrogen oxides as well as particle emissions are significantly reduced. Moreover, engines fueled by LNG produce far less noise. In 2015 a new sulfur emission regulation will come into force for the marine sector in the North Sea as well as in the Baltic Sea. Therefore it is expected that small scale LNG markets will grow substantially and enhance a more sustainable transportation sector.
AGA manufactures and markets industrial gases and specialty gases for varying purposes. In cooperation with our customers, we develop total solutions including gases, process knowledge, gas equipment and service. With advanced gas technology we make it possible for our customers to increase profitability, safety and quality while protecting the environment. AGA is part of the Linde Group,. The Linde Group is a world leading gases and engineering company with approximately 62 000 employees in around 100 countries. Read more at www.aga.se and www.linde.com
Anthony Veder Group was established in 1937 as a ship-owner and port agent. Ever since acquiring its first gas tanker in 1969, the company has been involved in gas shipping. As an integrated shipping company, it aims to develop long-term customer relationships by offering a safe, reliable and flexible service through a wide range of high quality gas carriers. The group is involved in all segments of the gas market, from CO2 to ethylene and from LPG to LNG. Furthermore, it provides comprehensive and efficient technical and commercial ship management services to third parties.
N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie and Koninklijke Vopak NV are the initiators and partners in Gate terminal B.V. The terminal is operational since September 2011. The imported LNG is unloaded at the terminal, stored and evaporated to natural gas before it is delivered to the transmission network for the European markets. The terminal has an initial throughput capacity of 12 billion cubic meters per year (bcma), which in the future can be extended to 16 bcma.