France’s Dunkirk LNG still shut down as upgrade works continue

France’s Dunkirk LNG import terminal, the country’s fourth regasification facility, is still shut down as works on improving the terminal’s reloading capacity are ongoing.

To remind, Dunkerque LNG, the terminal operator, told LNG World News in July that the facility had planned a maintenance shutdown from the beginning of August and during the first half of September.

However, as works on reloading capacity are still ongoing, the shutdown has been extended as it requires “a bit more time than initially planned due to higher safety requirements,” a  spokeswoman from Dunkerque LNG said via email.

The LNG terminal is to reopen in the coming weeks while the new, faster reloading service will be available by the end of the year, according to the spokeswoman.

Belgium’s Fluxys with consortium partners announced earlier this year it had agreed to jointly acquire from France’s EDF and Total a 35.7 percent stake in Dunkerque LNG.

Upon completion of the transaction, Fluxys and its consortium partners will have a 60.7 percent stake in the facility while a consortium of Korean investors led by IMP Group will own the rest.

With an annual regasification capacity of 13 billion cubic meters of natural gas, the terminal can meet 20 percent of France and Belgium’s gas demand.

About 75 percent of the terminal’s capacity is contracted with EDF and Total under 20-year contracts until 2036.

LNG World News Staff