March 9, 2015 [PortNews IAA] - Yamal Trade (Yamal LNG’s 100% subsidiary) and Fluxys LNG signed a 20-year contract for transshipment of up to 8 million tons of LNG per year at the port of Zeebrugge, Belgium, to support year-round LNG deliveries from the Yamal Peninsula to Asian-Pacific markets, Fluxys LNG said Friday in a press release.
During Arctic summer, Yamal LNG will be delivering its LNG to Asian-Pacific markets via the Northern Sea Route using ice class ARC7 LNG tankers. In winter, the Arctic LNG tankers will transit via the Zeebrugge LNG terminal where Fluxys LNG will provide services to transship LNG onto conventional vessels used to make final delivery to Asian-Pacific markets via the Suez Canal.
This 20-year contract reinforces the Belgian gas system as a crossroads for international flows and the position of Zeebrugge as an all-round LNG hub in Northwest Europe. With transshipment services added to its offering the terminal will provide a complete range of services for large LNG volumes as well as for small-scale use for vessel bunkering and trailer loading. The transshipment services require the construction of a 5th storage tank and additional process facilities.
Fluxys Belgium is the independent operator of both the natural gas transmission grid and storage infrastructure in Belgium. The company also operates the Zeebrugge LNG terminal. Driven by our first-mover approach, we have developed our infrastructure into the veritable crossroads for international gas flows in North Western Europe.
Yamal LNG project envisages the construction of an LNG plant with annual capacity of 16.5 million tonnes per annum based on the feedstock resources of the South-Tambeyskoye field. According to the PRMS reserve standards, the proven and probable reserves of the South-Tambeyskoye field were appraised at 907 billion cubic meters of natural gas. The project requires the construction of transport infrastructure including a sea-port facility and an international airport located at Sabetta (north-east of the Yamal Peninsula). The project is developed by JSC Yamal LNG. Novatek owns 60% stake in the company while Total S.A. and CNPC own 20% each.