Lithuania Starts Commissioning Small Scale LNG Facility
Lithuania’s oil and LNG terminals operator Klaipedos Nafta (KN) said September 18 it has begun commissioning of a small-scale LNG reloading station at Klaipeda; the new facility is not due to enter commercial service until first half 2018.
It follows the delivery September 17 of a commisssioning cargo to the station by Cardissa, Shell’s new bunkering vessel, which loaded LNG required for the operation from Independence, the floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) at Klaipeda that since late 2014 has served as Lithuania’s LNG import and storage terminal. KN announced early August that it had contracted Shell to conduct the commissioning operation.
According to the contract, 1,000 m3 of LNG were reloaded to the bunker vessel. Two of the five storage tanks of the LNG reloading station are to be filled with this amount. Shell acquired the cargo from Lietuvos Duju Tiekimas (LDT), a Lithuanian gas supplier that uses the LNG terminal.
Lithuanian Minister of Energy Zygimantas Vaiciunas said: “Today’s event marks a new and significant stage in the history of KN. By exploiting LNG infrastructure more widely and expanding its activities the company is further creating added value for its clients, gas consumers and the main shareholder – the state.” He said the fact that Shell had purchased LNG from a Lithuanian supplier (LDT) “proved once again the competitiveness of Klaipėda LNG terminal and its growing perspective.”
Commercial operations will be launched in 1H2018 once construction work has been signed off, said KN.
Mark Smedley