The Blue Baltics project, aiming to develop and establish an LNG bunkering network in the Baltic Sea and corresponding European region, kicked off on Tuesday, March 14, according to the Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (INEA).
The main goal is to develop a “maritime LNG mobile multifunctional refilling station” (MMRS) which will connect the FSRU Independence, serving as Lithuania’s first LNG terminal, to the LNG reloading station in Klaipeda and will enable LNG bunkering.
The project is being coordinated by Lithuania’s Klaipedos Nafta, the operator of the country’s LNG terminal and involves Lithuania, Sweden, Estonia and Germany.
To serve a range of customers in Estonia, 14 LNG containers, one mobile LNG/CNG filling station and a LNG/CNG pumping station will be purchased and deployed under the project.
This will enable the bunkering of cargo vessels and ferries in the ports of Tallinn, Pärnu and their satellite ports, as well as the provision of CNG for urban transportation.
Within the LNG terminal in Nynäshamn, investments will be conducted to establish LNG reloading and bunkering facilities to enable LNG reloading as well as its further distribution along the Swedish shore and its neighbouring regions.
The estimated cost of the project is valued at €47.6 million (Approx: US$50.6 million) with the EU contributing €15 million through its Connecting Europe Facility.
The project was initially set to start in March 2016 and is planned to be concluded by June 2019.
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