FRSU planned at German port

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines plans to own, operate and finance the FSRU, which has a planned send-out capacity of 10 bcm/a and an LNG storage capacity of 263,000 cubic metres. Project developer Uniper will work to acquire permits for the operation of the facility and to gather interest for regasification capacity from additional market participants.

Speaking about the project at Germany’s only deepwater port, Keith Martin, chief commercial officer of Uniper SE, stated: “We are glad that we were able to get such an experienced partner as Mitsui O.S.K. Lines on board for the development of Germany’s first LNG terminal.

“Our partnership with MOL combined with the FSRU technology as well as Wilhelmshaven’s uniqueness in Germany, provide the fastest and most economical way to realise LNG imports directly into Germany. This will also be to the benefit of the end-customers.”

Infrastructure in place

The FSRU will benefit from the existing site at the Niedersachsen Ports-operated port, where required infrastructure is already in place. It will be designed to allow for the loading of small-scale barges to enable the use of LNG as marine fuel. Further, onward transportation of LNG on trucks will be possible.

Under a 20-year agreement due to commence in in December 2020, MOL will provide Uniper with shipping capacity equivalent to a 180,000 cubic metres LNG carrier. Uniper intends to use the additional shipping capacity to optimize LNG volumes sourced from Freeport in the US and to further leverage its expanding LNG trading activities.