Japex starts Soma LNG terminal operations

Japan Petroleum Exploration started operations at its Soma LNG terminal at the Soma Port in Shinchi town, Fukushima. 

The construction of the facility started in November 2014 with mechanical completion achieved in November 2017.

Japex said that since reaching mechanical completion, the company moved onto the commissioning and required procedures for operation commencement in December when the first commissioning cargo reached the facility.

Soma LNG terminal is the first large-scale LNG terminal in Fukushima, Japex said, adding that it includes a 230,000 cubic meters LNG storage tank two berths, LNG vaporization equipment and LNG shipping facility.

This terminal will receive LNG from overseas and will supply LNG vaporized gas to Niigata-Sendai line via Soma-Iwanuma gas pipeline which commenced its operation in November 2017 in advance of the terminal, and will be a base of Japex’s LNG satellite supply system for mainly wider Tohoku region.

In addition, Japex has been contracted by Fukushima Gas Power, to build an additional 230,000 cubic meters storage tank and vaporization equipment at the plant.

Construction works the second tank commenced in April 2017, and construction on the additional LNG vaporization equipment will start in spring 2018.

The second tank and additional vaporization equipment are planned to start operation in 2020 at the same time of commercial operation commencement of Fukushima natural gas power plant being built by FGP adjacent to the terminal.