Finnish Manga LNG terminal gets 1st cargo

The Tornio Manga liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in northern Finland on Sunday received its first ever cargo of the chilled fuel.

The cargo was brought by the 15,600-cbm LNG carrier Coral Energy, owned by the Dutch shipping company Anthony Veder. The small-scale carrier is on a long time-charter to Nordic LNG player Skangas, a unit of Gasum.

The new import terminal in Röyttä Harbor is owned and operated by a joint venture of the industrial companies Outokumpu and SSAB Europe, the energy company EPV Energy and Skangas.

Once completed in summer 2018, the import terminal will be the largest LNG terminal in the Nordic countries and the second LNG terminal in Finland. The project’s total investment is around 110 million euros.

The terminal will serve the entire Bay of Bothnia region as well as industrial and mining operators, maritime transport and heavy-duty road transport in Northern Finland, Northern Sweden and Northern Norway.

Finland’s Wärtsilä, the company responsible for construction delivery, is now preparing the terminal for commissioning.

Commercial deliveries to customers such as Outokumpu Tornio Works, EPV Energy and SSAB Raahe will begin in summer 2018, according to a Skangas statement.

”The terminal construction project has been a great success. Almost 1,400 people have taken part in construction work on the site. The employment effect of the construction project is estimated to be around 320 full-time equivalent years of employment. Finishing work and preparation for commissioning for customer use are now taking place at the terminal,” said Wärtsilä Business Development Manager Timo Mahlanen.

”It’s a historic moment to receive the first LNG shipment to Northern Finland. We’re strengthening Finland’s energy independence and our position as a leading LNG player in the Nordic countries. LNG helps achieve significant emission reductions and at the same time ensure the continued competitiveness of Finnish export industry,” said Skangas CEO Kimmo Rahkamo.