The Netherlands: RasGas Delivers LNG Cargo to GATE

RasGas just delivered its first commercial liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo to GATE (Gas Access Terminal Europe) in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. This short-term sale marks the company’s latest expansion into North West Europe, giving RasGas’ a complete and comprehensive market penetration.

Eneco brought state of the art LNG carrier to Gate terminal,’Al Khuwair’ LNG tanker, and its arrival marks the first time an LNG carrier of the Q-flex series calls at Rotterdam.

The carrier has a capacity of 217,000 m3 liquefied natural gas (LNG) with a length of 315 meters and a width of 50 meters. In the past carriers of the Q-Max series, as well as ´conventional’ sized ships have called at Gate. The Q-Flex carriers are a new generation of LNG mega-ships. The arrival of this first Q-Flex highlights the capability of accepting all types of large LNG carriers at Gate.

The carrier ‘Al Khuwair’ is Eneco’s first LNG delivery this year and Eneco’s third LNG cargo since the start of operations of the Gate terminal in 2011. This delivery stems from the term supply contract that Eneco concluded some years ago. Eneco considers LNG a valuable addition on the short and long term to the already diversified gas portfolio. Furthermore having LNG in-tank is a necessary prerequisite for developing the small scale LNG market.

“As Europe continues to work towards meeting CO2 emission targets, we are seeing more interest in LNG as a cleaner fuel. RasGas’ expanding reach in the European market allows for even higher flexibility in delivering LNG to the region’s liquid trading points,” said Khalid Sultan R. Al-Kuwari, Chief Marketing and Shipping Officer at RasGas.

“This delivery to GATE marks RasGas’ ability to access all three of the North West Europe’s liquid trading points. Additionally, GATE’s capacity for carriers as large as the Q-Max boosts RasGas’ flexibility in meeting the demands of the European market,” he added.

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Image: Eneco