Doha, Qatar, 27 July 2011: Qatargas, the world's largest LNG producing company announces the delivery of the first Qatari Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) cargo to the Netherlands, aboard its Q-Max vessel the Al-Samriya.
Al-Samriya is carrying the third and final commissioning LNG cargo for the start-up of Gate terminal, the new regasification LNG facility located at the northern part of the existing Port of Rotterdam. This milestone marks another new market for Qatargas.
Gate Terminal, the first independent LNG import terminal in the Netherlands, is currently being developed by main shareholders N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie and Royal Vopak.
After covering over 6,400 nautical miles in 18 days, the Q-Max Al-Samriya safely arrived at the Gate terminal marking the first delivery of LNG from Qatar to the Netherlands. Present today, in a ceremony held at the Terminal to mark the arrival of the Q-Max Al-Samriya were senior representatives from Qatargas, BP, Gate Terminal B.V, and Merrill Lynch Commodities.
Europe is currently one of Qatargas' largest customer markets and Qatargas continues to demonstrate its commitment to the European market through its safe and reliable LNG deliveries.
From Doha, Qatar, Khalid Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Chief Executive Officer of Qatargas in recognition of this delivery said:
"Qatari LNG continues to have a key role to play in helping countries around the world improve the diversity of their energy supplies. We are pleased with having played a role in the commissioning of Gate terminal, which in turn will aid in meeting the growing demand for energy in Europe.
Under the guidance of His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Bin Saleh Al Sada, Minister of Energy & Industry and Chairman of the Board of Directors at Qatargas; Qatargas is proud to to be the first supplier of Qatari LNG to the Netherlands utilising the Q-Max, the largest of our vessels. This deal continues to demonstrate Qatargas' capability to supply LNG to customers around the globe safely and reliably."
Branko Pokorny, Managing Director of Gate terminal added: "We are pleased and honoured to welcome the Q-Max to our jetty and to receive the first delivery of Qatari LNG ever to be imported into the Netherlands. This third delivery of LNG will play a vital part in the commissioning phase of Gate terminal, which after its opening in September will contribute to the security of supply of gas in the Netherlands and the rest of Europe.
Through Gate terminal, the Netherlands is connected to gas flows from around the world, which will further strengthen the position of the Netherlands as gas roundabout in Europe."
Jonty Shepard, Head of LNG Trading, BP said:
"We are very pleased to have been able to work with Qatargas to both commission the terminal and bring in the first fully laden Q-Max."
The LNG delivered to Gate terminal was produced by one of Qatargas' seven LNG Trains, three of these are the largest LNG trains in the world and together provide Qatargas' with a production capacity of 42 million tonnes per annum (MTA).
Qatargas remains at the forefront of opening up new markets and guaranteeing the safe, long-term reliable supply of clean energy.
The Q-Max ship is a new generation of LNG carriers. The Q-Max respectively has nearly double the capacity of a conventional LNG carrier whilst consuming about 40% less energy due to the economies of scale created by the size and efficiency of their engines.
-Ends-
1. About Qatargas: Qatargas was established in 1984, and pioneered the liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry in Qatar.
2. Today, Qatargas, under the guidance of His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Saleh Al Sada, Minister of Energy & Industry of the State of Qatar and Chairman of the Board of Directors at Qatargas, is the largest LNG producer in the world, with an annual LNG production capacity of 42 million tonnes per annum (MTA) and is realising its vision to deliver LNG to its customers around the globe, from its world-class facilities in Qatar.
3. Qatargas has seven LNG trains, of which four are the largest in the world - known as mega trains - each with a production capacity of 7.8 MTA.
4. The Qatargas vision is, by 2015 to be the world's premier LNG Company, known for its people, innovation, operating excellence, environmental responsibility and corporate citizenship.
5. Since the establishment of Qatargas 1, it has completed a successful expansion program that has included the development of Qatargas 2; Qatargas 3 and Qatargas 4 projects; Laffan Refinery, a dedicated fleet of ships, and an LNG Receiving Terminal. Qatargas operates these trains and the offshore as well as the Laffan Refinery, the Common Sulphur facilities, the Common Lean LNG (CLLNG), the Common LPG (CLPG) and the Common Condensate Storage & Loading (CCSL) projects on behalf of all project owners.
6. Qatargas is proud to be the major contributor to the realisation of the vision of His Highness the Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, for the State of Qatar, to be the largest LNG producer in the world, with a combined production capacity of 77 million tonnes, per annum. This achievement was celebrated in December 2010.
7. Today, Qatargas' customers are spread throughout the four corners of the world in Asian, European and North & South American markets including Japan, Spain, France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Thailand, Malaysia, Brazil, the United States and China.
8. Access through the Gate Terminal and hence the Dutch pipeline system provides access to the European continent as a whole. Today Europe is supplied by mainly pipeline gas the demand for LNG is in the same time increasing.
9. In 2005 N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie and Royal Vopak decided to jointly develop Gate terminal ("Gas Access to Europe"), the first independent LNG import terminal in the Netherlands and are the main shareholders of Gate terminal. The imported LNG will be unloaded, stored and regasified at the terminal before distribution through the gas transmission network for the European markets. The terminal will have an initial annual throughput capacity of 12 billion cubic meters per year (bcma) and can be increased to 16 bcma in the future.
10. Five European energy companies (DONG Energy from Denmark, EconGas from Austria, E.ON Ruhrgas from Germany, RWE Supply & Trading from Switzerland and Eneco from the Netherlands) have signed long term throughput agreements with Gate terminal.
For All Media Enquiries Contact:
Lynda James
Qatargas
lyjames@qatargas.com.qa
Ph +974 77996635
© Press Release 2011