Eric Watkins
Senior Correspondent
LOS ANGELES, June 30 -- Dutch Economy Minister Maria van der Hoeven approved construction of the Netherlands' first LNG import terminal in Rotterdam, according to oil-storage company Royal Vopak NV.
"The terminal dovetails with Dutch and European energy policies, built on the pillars of strategic diversification of LNG supplies, sustainability, safety and environmental awareness of future energy supplies. The direct connection to the national transmission network will also consolidate the Netherlands' position as a European hub for natural gas trading and distribution," Van der Hoeven said.
The Gate terminal, a joint project of gas-grid operator Nederlandse Gasunie NV and Royal Vopak, will consist of three storage tanks with a capacity of 180,000 cu m each and one jetty. The terminal will have an initial throughput capacity of 9 billion cu m (bcm)/year, which can be increased to 16 bcm/year in the near future.
A consortium comprised of Techint Group, Sener Ingenieria y Sistemas SA, Entrepose Contracting, and Vinci Construction PLC will build the terminal, which will come online in the second half of 2011, at a cost of some €800 million. Dutch port operator Havenbedrijf Rotterdam NV will invest €60 million in basic infrastructure as the project will significantly strengthen its position as an energy port.
According to Gasunie and Royal Vopak, the construction of a modern LNG terminal was "essential" and the need for it was illustrated by the first long-term contracts signed with three major European energy companies—Dong Energy, EconGas GMBH, and Essent Energie BV—for a combined throughput of 9 bcm/year.
Contact Eric Watkins at [email protected].