EDF confirms Dunkirk LNG terminal investment

May 10, 2011
Electricite de France (EDF) confirmed its commitment to invest €1.5 billion in a LNG terminal project in Dunkirk at the Le Clipton site in Loon-Plage. The Dunkirk Port Authority (DPA) approved the project in May 2010.

Doris Leblond
OGJ Correspondent

PARIS, May 10 -- Electricite de France (EDF) confirmed its commitment to invest €1.5 billion in a LNG terminal project in Dunkirk at the Le Clipton site in Loon-Plage. The Dunkirk Port Authority (DPA) approved the project in May 2010.

The terminal, due to come on stream by yearend 2015, will have a regasification capacity of 13 billion cu m of gas, boosting France's gas import capacity by 20%, EDF said.

In addition, due to its location, EDF said it will be “national and European” and will “be able to serve all markets in northern and western Europe.”

Three project managers will be jointly in charge of carrying out the project. DPA will build the port network, EDF will handle the industrial installations, and GDF Suez subsidiary GRTgaz will deal with the connections to the gas transportation system.
Philippe-Jean Garnier, head of supplies at GRTgaz, said he would invest €1.25 billion to double gas line capacities in northern and northwestern France. He also is mulling over the creation of a gas export interconnection between France and Belgium at a cost of €100 million.

Besides Total SA, which has confirmed its 10% share in the investment, EDF says it will be in partnership “with several European gas companies.”

The project was originally linked to Total's shut down of its Dunkirk refinery in March 2010 as it is slated to provide employment to the refinery's workforce.