Small-scale market pushes LNG import and export up at Gate terminal

For the third year in a row, Dutch Gate terminal in the port of Rotterdam shows an increase in terms of import and export of liquefied natural gas.

This growth is mainly related to the development of the small-scale market and additional reloading operations, stands in a statement by Gate.

The start of small scale for the use of LNG as fuel was a fact with the successful launching of truck loading services in January 2014. During last year, 174 trucks were loaded for 7 different truck loading customers with deliveries to the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Norway, Belgium, France and Italy. The majority of the volumes loaded onto road trailers were used for off-grid industrial applications, while the share of LNG used as marine and road fuel is increasing.

In 2014 for the first time in its history two LNG carriers were moored and reloaded simultaneously at the jetties of Gate terminal. Reloading of LNG at Gate started in 2013.

Customers of Gate increased the use of their capacity positions in the terminal by unloading and reloading in total 34 vessels compared with 23 ships in 2013. During 2014, there were 14 unloading’s of which one 1 small one compared to 15 of which 7 small unloading’s in 2013. LNG was arriving from Norway, Trinidad and Tobago and Qatar.

There were 20 loadings in 2014, compared to 8 in 2013 of which 13 small-scale carriers under 20,000 m3 during. In 2013, there were 3 small-scale loadings. The small LNG carriers Coral Energy, Coral Methane and Coral Anthelia were all reloaded at Gate during 2014. The reloaded LNG has been delivered to Japan, Brazil, Argentina, Kuwait, Spain, Italy and Sweden.

Small scale tankers will also be loaded at a dedicated third jetty in the future. The investment decision for the construction of this so called new break bulk terminal was taken on 1 July 2014. Commissioning of this facility and commencement of the first services are scheduled for the first half of the year 2016. The construction of the new break bulk infrastructure started in December 2014. The new break bulk facility will strengthen the further development of the terminal into an LNG hub.

[mappress mapid=”16446″]

Press Release; Image: Gate Terminal