Zeebrugge signs LNG transhipment agreement

During Arctic summer, Yamal LNG will deliver LNG to Asian-Pacific markets via the Northern Sea Route using high ice class ARC7 LNG tankers. In winter, the Arctic LNG tankers will transit via the Zeebrugge LNG terminal where Fluxys LNG will provide services to tranship the gas onto conventional vessels used to make final delivery to Asian-Pacific markets via the Suez Canal.

“A transhipment platform in Northwest Europe is a key element to our transportation and logistics arrangement. A contract with Fluxys LNG, an experienced and reliable partner, will secure the LNG supply chain for our buyers,” said Evgeniy Kot, general director, Yamal LNG.

The 20-year contract reinforces the Belgian gas system as a crossroads for international flows and the position of Zeebrugge as an all-round LNG hub in Northwest Europe. With transhipment services added to its offering the terminal will provide a complete range of services for large LNG volumes as well as for small-scale use for vessel bunkering and trailer loading.

The Port of Zeebrugge has a transhipment capacity of 8 million tonnes of LNG per annum, but a fifth storage tank and additional process facilities will need to be built.

“This cooperation is a valorisation of the experience and knowhow of Fluxys in Zeebrugge and a reinforcement of our port as a gas hub. We are looking forward to this new impulse for our port and the challenge that goes along with it,” added Joachim Coens, managing director, Port of Zeebrugge.