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Shell buys into Rotterdam LNG terminal

Shell buys into Rotterdam LNG terminal
Shell is to buy capacity from the Gas Access To Europe (Gate) terminal at the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

The move will enable expansion at the Gate terminal, a joint venture of Gasunie, Vopak and OMV, including a new jetty, increasing capacity for LNG bunkering fuel in Northern Europe ahead of the entry into force of new sulphur emissions regulations in the North-European ECA.

The new jetty and dedicated LNG terminal are slated for completion in Q4 of 2016 and will be positioned alongside the central Gate terminal. A specialised LNG bunkering vessel is to be chartered to enable ship-to-ship transfers.

“We are pleased to have reached this agreement,” said Shell’s executive vp Maarten Wetselaar. 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.

“LNG is a viable option for fuelling cleaner and more sustainable transport. 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 Port of Rotterdam is also taking part in a joint venture for construction of an LNG Bunkering terminal at the Port of Gothenburg, which this week announced it would be cutting port tariffs for LNG-powered vessels from 1 January 2015.