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Gothenburg invests in LNG terminal

(Posted on 08/06/18)

Demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel is on the increase at the Swedish Port of Gothenburg, and it has now been announced that the availability of LNG and the range of bunkering options will be even greater in the future.

Swedegas, which is currently constructing a permanent LNG facility at the Port of Gothenburg Energy Port, has entered into an agreement with a gas supplier for the facility, which will to become operational in August.

LNG is currently the cleanest marine fuel available for large-scale shipping. Compared with traditional fuel, emissions of sulphur, particles, heavy metals and hydrogen oxide are reduced substantially. The use of LNG internationally is growing in line with increasingly stricter global emission rules for shipping. LNG has also been highlighted by the EU as a key marine fuel for the future.

In autumn 2016, the first LNG bunkering took place at the port, and since then the number of LNG-ships have gradually increased. In 2017, 111 LNG-ships called the Port of Gothenburg. From January through April of 2018, LNG was bunkered 44 times.

LNG supplier Skangas is already operating at the Port of Gothenburg, supplying ships with LNG using a ship-to-ship-system. With the Swedegas facility and the entry of the Norwegian gas supplier Barents NaturGass, the range of options will be even greater for shipping companies purchasing LNG at the port.

“We can see that the demand for LNG will increase at the Port of Gothenburg, and it is vital that the number of alternatives continues to grow. With the Swedegas facility, the port will have more LNG choices than previously on a competitive market with several gas suppliers, whilst at the same time there will be a larger range of bunkering methods. This will offer greater flexibility, more stable access, and better service for LNG purchasers,” said Jill Söderwall, Head of Commercial Operations at the Energy Port.

With the opening of the Swedegas facility in August, LNG customers at the Port of Gothenburg will have three bunkering alternatives: ship-to-ship, directly from a road truck, and pipe-to-jetty. All three methods can be employed whilst the vessels are loading or unloading.