5 years of LNG supplies to Swinoujscie Terminal
June 2021 marks five years since the President Lech Kaczyński LNG Terminal in Świnoujście, owned by Gaz-System, received its first commercial shipment of liquefied natural gas, ordered by PGNiG.
This event opened the way to diversification of sources and directions of LNG supplies to Poland. For the first time it became possible to import gas other than Russian gas in commercial quantities.
The first commercial delivery of LNG took place on 17 June 2016. The gas was then transported from Qatar. Almost five years later – on 15 June this year – the 130th cargo of liquefied natural gas – also originating from Qatargas – arrived at the terminal in Świnoujście. The unit named Duhail delivered about 90 thousand tons of LNG, which corresponds with about 120 million cubic metres of natural gas in the volatile state.
The President Lech Kaczyński LNG Terminal in Świnoujście allows to import gas from various directions, helping to diversify, reduce dependence on one dominant supplier and thus enhance the energy security of our country. In 2020, LNG will already account for over 25 per cent of gas imported to Poland – said Paweł Majewski, President of the Management Board of PGNiG. – We will continue to develop our LNG business dynamically. Therefore we reserved additional regasification capacities in the terminal in Świnoujście and we also decided to charter two gas carriers to service a part of the contracts – added PGNiG President.
The possibility of gas delivery by sea has significantly changed the outlook for the Polish gas sector. At present, the Terminal allows to receive 5 billion cubic metres of gas annually. After the completion of the installation expansion programme, which is being carried out by GAZ-SYSTEM, the regasification capacity of the facility for commercial needs will increase by more than a half. The investment will also enable new functionalities of the facility such as bunkering of vessels directly at the new jetty under construction – said Tomasz Stępień, President of Gaz-System.
During the 5 years the Terminal has been receiving approx. 10.6 million tons of liquefied gas ordered by PGNiG, which is equivalent to almost 15 billion cubic meters of natural gas after regasification. Most of the cargos came from Qatar and the USA, several from Norway and some from Nigeria and Trinidad and Tobago. In the coming years – along with the commencement of subsequent contracts with American LNG exporters – the number of supplies from the USA to Poland will increase significantly. PGNiG – pursuant to agreements with GAZ-SYSTEM – currently reserves the full capacity of the terminal, i.e. approx. 5 bcm of regasification capacity per year. As the terminal expands, it will have at its disposal a capacity of 6.2 bcm, and from 2024 – 8.3 bcm.
rel. PortalMorski.pl
