Go-ahead build terminal

26 June 2008

Minister van der Hoeven gives official go-ahead to build first Liquified Natural Gas terminal in The Netherlands

  • Gate terminal strengthens Netherlands’ position as gas roundabout;

 

  • Independent LNG terminal important factor in gas distribution in Europe;

 

  • Terminal dovetails with Dutch and European energy policy of diversification;

 

  • Terminal ready in 2011.

 

Economic Affairs Minister Maria van der Hoeven today gave the official green light for the construction of the first LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) import terminal in the Netherlands, on Maasvlakte in Rotterdam.

The terminal will have an initial throughput capacity of 9 billion m3 (bcm) per annum and will consist of three storage tanks and one jetty. Annual throughput capacity can be increased to 16 bcm a year in the near future. Each tank will have a capacity of 180,000 m3.

As an independent LNG terminal, Gate terminal will be an important factor for the European receipt of gas from other countries. Imports are necessary as Europe’s own production is declining yet demand for natural gas is rising. The terminal will both increase the security of supplies and enable new players to enter the European gas market.

A consortium consisting of Techint, Sener, Entrepose and Vinci will build the terminal. The total project costs will be about EUR 800 million. The terminal is expected to be fully operational in the second half of 2011. The construction of the Gate terminal will also significantly strengthen Rotterdam’s position as an energy port. The port authorities are investing EUR 60 million in the basic infrastructure.

Minister van der Hoeven said at the opening:
“This is an excellent initiative. The terminal dovetails with Dutch and European energy policies, built on the pillars of strategic diversification of LNG supplies, sustainability, safety and environmental awareness of future energy supplies. The direct connection to the national transmission network will also consolidate the Netherlands’ position as a European hub for natural gas trading and distribution.”

John Paul Broeders, Vopak’s Executive Board Chairman, and Marcel Kramer, Gasunie’s
CEO, together said:
“We are very proud that construction of the Gate terminal will now go ahead. A modern LNG terminal is essential. This is illustrated by the first long-term contracts signed with three major European energy companies, Dong Energy, EconGas and Essent, for a combined throughput of 9bcm a year of natural gas. The Gate terminal initiative stands out for its independence, accessibility, excellent location, the priority it gives to safety and the environment and the unique combination of the two strong partners, Gasunie en Vopak.”

Profile of Gate terminal B.V.
The growing demand for natural gas cannot be met without an increase in imports. N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie (Gasunie) and Koninklijke Vopak N.V. (Vopak) therefore decided in 2005 to develop Gate terminal (Gas Access To Europe), the first LNG import terminal in the Netherlands. Imported LNG will be regasified and stored under pressure at the terminal before it is supplied at a constant rate to the Dutch gas transmission network. There will be no change in the composition of the product. The main functions of the LNG import terminal as a whole will therefore be storage and handling; no waste will be produced. The terminal will consist of three storage tanks and one jetty. Each tank will have a capacity of 180,000 cubic meters. The terminal is expected to be fully operational in the second half of 2011. The LNG terminal’s annual throughput capacity can be increased to 16 billion cubic meters in the future.
More information about Gate terminal is available at the Gate terminal website: www.gateterminal.com

N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie (Gasunie)
Gasunie is a gas infrastructure and gas transmission company with a prominent position in Europe. The total length of its pipeline network in the Netherlands and Germany comes to more than 15,000 kilometres and, with an annual throughput of almost 125 billion m3, it ranks as one of the most extensive high pressure networks in Europe. Gasunie operates and develops the Dutch national gas transmission network and offers transmission services. Since 1 July 2008 Gasunie also owns the network of the former gas transport division of BEB and EMFG in Germany, which is now functioning under the name Gasunie Deutschland. Gasunie considers the wishes of its customers, who want their gas to be transported at competitive tariffs, to be of prime importance. Gasunie also offers other services within the scope of gas infrastructure. Gasunie carries out all these activities in a safe, efficient, profitable and sustainable manner. In doing so it also serves the public interest.

For more information:
N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie
Communication
Hansch van der Velden
Telephone : +31 (0)50 – 521 21 60
E-mail : press@gasunie.nl
Website : www.gasunie.nl

Profile Vopak

Royal Vopak (Vopak) is the world’s largest independent tank terminal operator specialising in the storage and handling of liquid and gaseous chemical and oil products. On request, Vopak can provide complementary logistic services for customers at its terminals. Vopak operates 76 terminals with a storage capacity of more than 26 million cubic meters in 31 countries. The terminals are strategically located for users and the major shipping routes. The majority of its customers are companies operating in the chemical and oil industries, for which Vopak stores a large variety of products destined for a wide range of industries.

For more information
Koninklijke Vopak N.V. (Royal Vopak)
Corporate Communication & Investor Relations
Rolf Brouwer
Telephone : +31 (0)10 – 400 2777
E-mail : corporate.communication@vopak.com
Website : www.vopak.com