GDF SUEZ od France and GASNOR, a Norwegian LNG company, have concluded a long term agreement, according to which GDF SUEZ will supply GASNOR with 7.5 TWh of liquefied natural gas over a 12-year period, starting in 2013.
The LNG volumes will be sourced from GDF SUEZ portfolio and will be loaded by trucks or by small vessels from Zeebrugge LNG terminal in Belgium. These new volumes will help GASNOR to fulfill its growing LNG supply needs in Europe outside Norway.
The small scale LNG industry should develop furthermore worldwide in the coming years. Market growth opportunities are expected in LNG as fuel for ships, and in retail LNG to supply small distribution customers or industrial companies by boat or by truck.
Eilef Stange, CEO of GASNOR said : “ We are very pleased to sign this agreement with GDF SUEZ. The contract will allow GASNOR to meet increasing demand for LNG and open up the market for redistributing of LNG from one of the largest import terminals in Europe .”
Jean-Marie Dauger, Executive Vice President of GDF SUEZ in charge of the Global Gas & LNG business line said : “ This agreement with GASNOR is a milestone for the development of our activities in the small scale LNG market in Europe. With more than 250,000 trucks loaded in our Everett LNG terminal in New England since 1971, GDF SUEZ is already a player in this activity in the US and wishes to develop it also in Europe. ”
GASNOR is one of the leading small scale LNG players in Europe. GASNOR supplies regularly LNG to 30 ships, and operates 2 LNG carriers. GASNOR’s ambition is to be a leading supplier of LNG to the growing market for LNG as ship fuel in Europe.
GDF SUEZ is one of the leader for LNG market in the world and the main LNG importer in Europe. Its LNG portfolio of 16.5 MTPA is sourced from 6 countries. The Group operates a fleet of 17 LNG carriers and has a significant presence in regasification terminals around the world.
[mappress] LNG World News Staff, April 12, 2012; Image: Port of Zeebrugge