Anglo-Dutch Shell said Thursday it had committed to underwrite the construction of a bulk-breaking unit at the Gasunie/Vopak operated Gate LNG terminal in Rotterdam.
As tighter pollution limits come into force, LNG is set to play a larger role in bunkering for sea and riverborne vessels in Europe. Bulk breaking allows large volumes of LNG, stored in large tanks, to be divided into manageable portions for small offtake loads.
The new LNG for transport infrastructure includes the construction of a new jetty which will make LNG more widely available as a transport fuel for vessels in northwest Europe. Shell is to be the foundation customer for its services but did not disclose any financial details.
Shell's executive vice president for integrated gas, Maarten Wetselaar, said in a statement: "The collaboration between Gasunie, Vopak, the port of Rotterdam and Shell will provide security of supply of LNG for marine and road transport customers in northwest Europe, through dedicated and scalable infrastructure. We believe LNG will form a bigger part of the transport fuel mix in the future, and this project demonstrates our confidence in LNG as a fuel option."
The new, dedicated break bulk terminal is expected to be operational in Q4 2016. It will be positioned alongside the central Gate terminal, where LNG arrives in large carriers from around the world.
Until the new system is online, LNG arriving in to the port will continue to be regasified for the power and industrial sector or re-exported.
Shell said it would charter a specialized LNG bunker vessel to facilitate ship-to-ship transfer operations, and also deliver LNG to secondary distribution terminals outside the port area.
Shell is also planning a network of up to seven LNG truck refuelling stations in the Netherlands. The first of these Shell truck refuelling stations is planned to open later this year in the Rotterdam area.
