International:
Gasum Expands Maritime Fuel Supply
First LNG delivery to the tanker Tern Ocean
Gasum, the leading Nordic supplier of small scale liquified natural gas (LNG), announced that they have agreed with Swedegas to use Swedegas’ facility for liquefied gas for bunkering of LNG fueled vessels. Swedegas’ gas infrastructure at the jetty of the Energy Port in Gothenburg enables Gasum to broaden their services to meet the increasing LNG demand in the maritime sector. This demand comes from stricter climate and environmental goals in the maritime sector.
Gasum’s first LNG bunkering from the jetty
On 24 October the first bunkering took place of the oil and chemical tanker Tern Ocean. Tern Ocean is chartered by Preem and she loaded her cargo simultaneously from Preem’s refinery in Gothenburg.
“For years we have bunkered LNG at the quayside from diversified delivery points in the Nordics”, explains Jacob Granqvist, sales director in Gasum. “The benefit of the Swedegas set-up is that our customers can solve two issues at the same time, both getting fuel and handle cargo. Increased operational efficiency is important in the maritime sector and we are happy to make it possible.”
The agreement with Swedegas falls into the company’s plans to expand its maritime LNG services. From the jetties 519 and 521 in the Gothenburg harbor Swedegas offers their customers the opportunity to bunker LNG and liquefied biogas (LBG) at the same time as the vessels load and discharge their cargo.
Natural and biogas
The LNG facility allows to be used for the storage and transport of biogas. This means that vessels can bunker not only LNG but also LBG. LBG is renewable and can as well be used as vessel fuel.
“We are very happy contributing to building the maritime gas infrastructure in Northern Europe. Entering into an agreement with gas suppliers like Gasum may also contribute to the end-customers possibility to purchase LNG or LBG at comparable prices”, explains Peter Blomberg, Team leader Business development and Innovation at Swedegas.
LNG consumption within the global maritime sector is rising. Consumption is expected to accelerate even more rapidly, as compliance with the IMO 2020 Sulphur regulation (IMO – International Maritime Organization), which requires over 85% reduction in Sulphur emissions, comes into effect next year. IMO has also set a target to reduce GHG emissions by at least 50% by 2050. These environmental regulations make LNG a very attractive alternative for compliance.
https://seanews.co.uk/shipping/gasum-expands-maritime-fuel-supply/
Poland Plans to Stop Importing Natural Gas From Russian State Provider
Poland’s state gas company PGNiG said on Nov. 15 it would stop importing natural gas from Russia’s state-controlled Gazprom when a long-term contract expires in three years unless it can secure better commercial terms. The announcement comes as Poland is working to reduce its dependence on Russian energy sources, which Moscow has sometimes used as a tool of political pressure on its partners.
Poland had said before that it did not plan to buy gas from Gazprom after 2022. However, the agreement signed in 1996, known as the Yamal contract, required that the parties formally submit declarations regarding future cooperation three years before the deal expires.
In line with the provisions of the deal, PGNiG had sent Gazprom, which is controlled by the Russian state, notice that it will terminate the contract as of Dec. 31, 2022.
The finance and development minister, Jerzy Kwiecinski, said the intention is not solely to stop imports from Russia but to get fair terms.
“Everything will depend on the financial terms, but we cannot allow for the gas that we are buying (from Gazprom) to be one of the most expensive in the world,” Kwiecinski said.
Poland has repeatedly said that the financial terms of the Gazprom contract were unfavorable and that it was paying a higher price than others in Europe.
Poland uses some 14 billion cubic meters of gas a year. Under the contract with Gazprom, a “take-or-pay” clause meant it was obliged to import some 10 billion cubic meters of gas from Gazprom per year.
Gazprom Export, the gas-exporting arm of Gazprom, confirmed in a statement to Reuters that it had received the notification from PGNiG.
“The option of sending such a notification is allowed by the contract,” Gazprom Export said, adding that it continued to supply Poland as per its contractual obligations.
Alternative Sources
The efforts to reduce dependency include striking long-term contracts for deliveries of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States, Qatar, and other countries, as well as developing a new pipeline with Norway for deliveries from the North Sea. PGNiG holds shares in 27 exploration and production licenses on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. Poland also has some gas deposits of its own.
PGNiG said in a statement it’s contracted (LNG) supplies and acquisitions of gas deposits in the North Sea would guarantee the security of supplies after 2022.
The day before the announcement, the European Investment Bank (EIB) decided to stop financing fossil fuel projects, including natural gas projects, from the end of 2021. That’s in support of a Green Deal that favors renewable energy, according to Fortune. This decision may be unfavorable for Poland since Polish gas companies will have to look for loans at commercial banks. Such loans will very likely offer higher interest rates than EIB.