Natural gas: Within 2023 the first FSRUs in Greece – Economic Postman
Two of the total five are in full development within 2023 FSRUs (floating storage units of liquefied natural gas – LNG) designed by private investors.
By the end of next year one of them is very likely to be able to export the first natural sources of gas to the Balkans, starting a complete replacement of Russian fuel by the countries of the region.
Natural gas: Among the countries with the largest increase in LNG imports is Greece
The reason for the FSRU Alexandroupolis with Gastrade shareholders racing to get the infrastructure up and running by December 2023.
The second FSRU to follow that is hers Lubricant, the “GAS Pipeline”, which completes the binding market test on January 15. Estimates want the particular floating LNG storage and venting unit not to be at all until late 2023 early 2024.
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Greece with its five FSRUs (floating liquefied natural gas storage stations – LNG) which will gradually operate from the end of 2023 until 2025 is turning into an energy hub of Southeast Europe.
The quantities of gas, approximately 22.5 billion of cubic meters that will be traded in Greece, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Moldova and Ukraine correspond to 45% of Russian natural gas (50 billion cubic meters). The 22.5 billion they exceed Gazprom’s gas (11 billion cubic meters) which only reaches the Balkan countries.
The five floating units
In detail the five floating units are:
FSRU Alexandroupolis:
The €380m project has started to be built and is owned by the Gastrade company.
The FSRU, with a capacity of 153,500 cubic meters of LNG, will be connected to Greece’s National Natural Gas Transmission System by a 28 km long pipeline, through which gasified LNG is promoted to the Balkan and Moldovan and Ukrainian markets. The terminal will be operational at the end of 2023, with the contracted gasification potential already reaching up to 50% of the technical potential of 5.5 billion. k.m. per year.
Gas Channel:
The Motor Oil group is also moving into FSRU development. The “Gas Canal” will be located southwest of the Motor Oil refinery in the area of Ag. Theodoron of Corinthia.
The plant’s storage capacity is up to 210,00 cubic meters, with a gasification capacity of 132,000 MWhs / day and an estimated demand of 2.5 billion. etc.
Motor Oil, due to the increased interest of buyers of the amounts of gas it will make available through the FSRU, extended until January 15 for the submission of binding offers in the market test.
FSRU Thrace:
It is also owned by Gastrade and will also be developed in the Thracian Sea, off Alexandroupolis. It is likely to be operational in 2024. The FSRU will have a storage capacity of 170,000 m3. LNG and can be delivered up to 22.7 mcm of natural gas per day or 5.5 billion k.m. annually
ARGO FSRU
Mediterranean Gas’ ARGO FSRU off Volos is also in the preparation stage.
The company recently announced that the first non-binding phase of the market test was successfully completed with the expression of interest from Greek and international companies.
ARGO’s regasification capacity will amount to 5.2 billion. cubic meters of natural gas per year. “It is located in the heart of Greece, in the middle of the ENSFA, offering high pressure for the proper operation and sustainability of the National System and flexibility to the terminal users, as well as a wide range of services,” the company says characteristically.
FSRU Thessaloniki
Elpedison is also moving forward with FSRU development. The new project, “Thessaloniki FSRU”, will be developed in Thermaikos Gulf, off Thessaloniki and be operational by 2025.
The FSRU will have a storage capacity of 170,000 m3. LNG and will be able to deliver up to 20 million sq.m. of natural gas per day or 5.5 billion k.m. annually.