Groningen's Eemshaven will get an import terminal for LNG. Preparations for this are in full swing. Tendering has also started for market parties who want to bring LNG to Europe. The floating LNG facility currently located in Singapore will leave for the Netherlands on transport in May. It is expected to reach Eemshaven in early August.
An import terminal for LNG in Groningen's Eemshaven is becoming a reality. According to Ulco Vermeulen, member of the Executive Board of Gasunie, some important steps have been taken. "We are now entering into further negotiations with potential customers. They will use our terminal in the near future. First for LNG, later for green hydrogen. We will do this under the name EemsEnergyTerminal".
Making the gas suitable
Natural gas cannot simply be transported by ship. This requires preparation for safe transport. Specifically, the gas will be liquefied. Upon arrival, it will then be made volatile again. This makes it suitable for transport in the Dutch gas network.
Floating LNG facility
Eemshaven will have facilities where the floating LNG facility can dock. This will be the S188 of the Belgian firm Exmar. The floating LNG facility will then allow liquefied natural gas to be transported by ship to Eemshaven for conversion to gas by the facility.
EemsEnergyTerminal
Market parties will purchase the LNG gas. They will use the new floating terminal for this purpose. The aim is to be able to bring liquefied natural gas to the Netherlands as early as this winter. From Eemshaven, Gasunie will then take care of the further transport of gas in the Netherlands via the national gas pipeline network.
Green hydrogen
In the future, a new terminal could serve to deploy green hydrogen. Hydrogen is a spearhead in Gasunie's strategy. It is also a pillar of the future economic development of the northern Netherlands.
Increase imports of LNG
Last March, Energy and Climate Minister Jetten announced that the Dutch cabinet, together with Gasunie, is investigating how increasing import capacity for LNG in the Netherlands is possible in the short term. Importing LNG could help to reduce dependence on gas from Russia. Gasunie has been intensively discussing this with the cabinet for some time. Besides Eemshaven, the existing GATE terminal on the Maasvlakte in Rotterdam will also undergo optimisation. This will enable the realisation of more LNG. Eemshaven and Rotterdam together will then double the LNG capacity in the Netherlands.
Source and image: Gasunie
