Gasunie explores LNG capacity expansion at Gate and Eemshaven, drops plans for new terminal

Dutch energy infrastructure firm Gasunie has decided to continue exploring further options for expanding existing capacity at Eemshaven and Gate terminals instead of adding a new floating LNG terminal in the port of Terneuzen which proved to be unfeasible in the short term.

The move is part of Gasunie’s ongoing efforts to increase LNG import into the Netherlands, following consultation with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate in December 2022 when plans for the additional terminal were announced.

However, Gasunie revealed that the recently announced feasibility study has shown that a new floating LNG terminal in the port of Terneuzen is not feasible in the short term.

As explained, the aim of realising temporary LNG import capacity in Terneuzen in the short term and for a limited period proved to be technically and commercially unfeasible.

“It is, therefore, unwise to embark on the construction of a temporary additional terminal. Gasunie thanks its project partners and stakeholders in Zeeland for their good cooperation in the study phase”, the company said.

Now, Gasunie continues to work on initiatives to further expand the capacity of existing LNG terminals in the Netherlands – Gate terminal in Maasvlakte and EemsEnergyTerminal in Eemshaven.

At the Gate terminal, this involves a possible fourth tank with a capacity of 4 billion cubic metres of natural gas and at Eemshaven, technical optimisation of the existing plant is being investigated. The ambition of EemsEnergyTerminal is to be able to handle 9 billion cubic metres of natural gas before the end of this year, and then to grow to 10 billion cubic metres of natural gas.

Gasunie added that these investments are suitable for the transition to green hydrogen as the company continues to work on accelerating the energy transition, such as the construction of a national hydrogen network.