COVER STORY
Meeting Europe ’ s LNG Demand
OGI sits down with Dunkerque LNG , a Fluxys company , to learn more about their LNG terminal based in Fance which is actually the second largest LNG terminal in Europe . As the growth of global gas trading increases , the rapid growth of shipping LNG is growing with it . Dunkerque LNG is here to help our readers understand more of the implications of Europe ’ s ( France in particular ) increasing dependence on gas imports outside of the European Union . Dunkerque LNG is positioned to help bring more LNG gas to the European Union ’ s rising demand .
OGI : Could you start by explaining Dunkerque LNG ’ s credentials and experience in terms of your products and services for the gas sector ? Could you tell our readers the breadth of your experience , how long the company has been active , and its reach ?
Dunkerque : On the 21st of June 2011 , EDF and its partners , Total and Fluxys , gave approval for the construction of the Dunkirk LNG terminal . The terminal has been in service since 8 July 2016 , with the commercial commissioning conducted by the shareholders on the 1st of January 2017 .
On the 30th October 2018 , following a competitive auction process launched in early 2018 , EDF and Total sold their interests in Dunkerque LNG . Fluxys has now the control of the Dunkirk LNG terminal , the second-largest LNG terminal in continental Europe after Barcelona .
The Dunkirk LNG terminal is currently owned and operated by Dunkerque LNG , a company 61 % owned by a consortium made up of gas infrastructure group Fluxys , AXA Investment Managers-Real Assets , acting as an agent for their clients , and Crédit Agricole Assurances , and 39 % owned by a consortium of Korean investors led by IPM Group in cooperation with Samsung Asset Management .
The new shareholders fully support Dunkerque LNG in its intentions to increase its activity . It benefits from the growth of LNG in Europe and the development of a small-scale market ( by setting up an innovative supply chain via LNG reloading service using road tankers and bunker
The Dunkirk LNG terminal . Copyright : Dunkerque LNG – HappyDay .
barges ). The Fluxys Group affiliate will benefit from the full range of the Fluxys group ’ s LNG expertise , one of its core businesses and its long-standing commercial relationships in the LNG world .
The Dunkirk terminal will become a real bridge thanks to its excellent interconnection with not only French and Belgian , but also German gas networks , and would provide a solution to the expected growth in new gas import requirements for Germany .
EDF and Total remain the main customers of the Dunkirk LNG terminal through 20-year “ ship or pay ” contracts . These contracts mean that customers pay regardless of their use of the terminal , enabling the terminal ’ s services to be used flexibly . Of an annual regasification capacity of 13 billion m3 , 9.5 are reserved for EDF and Total in the long-term , and 3.5 are put on sale through a bond issue .
OGI : What are some of the benefits of LNG , opposed to building more gas pipelines in Europe ?
Dunkerque : The gas , once it has been extracted , can be transported in two ways : in gas form through a gas pipeline or in liquid form . In the latter case , the gas is liquefied by cooling it to a very low temperature ( -162 ° C ), so that it occupies a much smaller volume . Liquefied natural gas ( LNG ) takes up 600 times less space than in its gaseous form . The LNG in the terminals and storage tanks is stored at close to atmospheric pressure . This liquefaction enables diversity of gas supply . LNG is clear , odourless , non-toxic and non-corrosive .
The transportation of LNG by ship gives greater flexibility of supply and improved cost for distances greater than 3,000 km . The LNG chain also means gas can be transported in complete safety when transport by pipeline is not possible or when the distance between the production site and point of consumption is too great .
Dunkirk ’ s LNG terminal was created against a backdrop of growing dependence in Europe , and in France in particular , on natural gas imports from outside the European Union , as conventional gas production in the North Sea draws to a close . The installation of this LNG terminal is therefore a strategic one , and should create a flexible raw energy supply source , close to an area of high consumption , against a backdrop of tensions on the energy market .
OGI : Why does Dunkerque LNG ’ s terminal stand out as one of the most attractive in Europe ?
Dunkerque : Dunkirk LNG terminal offers major advantages to its customers :
• One of the largest on-terminal storage capacities in Europe .
• Diversification and security of supply for the French and European markets .
• A new maritime landing-point for LNG in France .
• A location at the heart of Europe , at the cross-roads of maritime routes through the English Channel and the North Sea and close to natural gas consumer markets in France and North-West Europe .
• A direct connection to two European markets ( France and Belgium ).
• A deep-water port making it accessible all year round .
• Genuine upstream flexibility to handle all sizes of ship from 5,000 m3 to 265,000 m3 .
• Downstream flexibility feeding the network upon customer request .
• Excellent technical operation .
The innovative design of the terminal allows optimisation of both the upstream ( through gas import contracts ) and downstream ( output to network ) markets through the allocation of