Philippe Cracowski, president of Fos Faster, which is developing the terminal, said the project concept began as a traditional import terminal with slots, storage, and regasification, but it is being reworked as LNG bunkering and other small-scale uses for the fuel become more popular.

“This is particularly visible today in the Baltics and the North Sea area,” he said. “There is no reason why the Mediterranean will not follow in the near future.”

The terminal project will apply for a building permit in coming months, and a final investment decision on the project is expected in the second half of 2015.

The project is 90 percent owned by Vopak, while Royal Dutch Shell owns the remainder.

The 8 billion cubic meter (bcm) per year facility will initially include one jetty and two 180,000 bcm tanks, but it could later be expanded to two jetties and four tanks.

“We’re including in our application all the small scale facilities,” Cracowski said. “This could include bunkering, trans-shipment, truck loading and barge loading.”

A number of parties have expressed interest in LNG bunkering in the Baltics, and the European Union (EU) is promoting the fuel for use all over the continent.