Eemshaven FSRU
| Part of the Global Gas Infrastructure Tracker, a Global Energy Monitor project. |
Eemshaven FSRU, also known as Eems Energy Terminal and EemsEnergyTerminal, is an LNG import terminal in Netherlands with units that are proposed and operating.
Location
Table 1: Location details
| Name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Eemshaven FSRU (base project) | Eemshaven, Netherlands[1] | 53.4356487, 6.8330977 (approximate) |
| Hydrogen Import Terminal | Eemshaven, Netherlands[1] | 53.4356487, 6.8330977 (approximate) |
The map below shows the approximate location of the terminal:
Project Details
Table 2: Infrastructure details
| Name | Facility type | Status | Capacity | Total terminal capacity | Offshore | Associated infrastructure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eemshaven FSRU (base project) | import[2][3] | operating[4] | 5.88 mtpa[2] | N/A (multiple facility types) | True | – |
| Hydrogen Import Terminal | import[5][3] | proposed[5][6] | – | – | True | – |
Table 3: Cost
| Name | Facility type | Cost | Total known terminal costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eemshaven FSRU (base project) | import[2][3] | US$545,000,000 (500,000,000 EUR)[4] | US$545,000,000 |
| Hydrogen Import Terminal | import[5][3] | – | US$545,000,000 |
Financing
No financing data available.
Table 4: Project timeline
| Name | Facility type | Status | Proposal year | FID year | Construction year | Operating year | Inactive year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eemshaven FSRU (base project) | import[2][3] | operating[4] | 2022[1] | – | 2022[7] | 2022[4] | – |
| Hydrogen Import Terminal | import[5][3] | proposed[5][6] | 2022[5][6] | – | – | – | – |
Ownership
Table 5: Ownership
| Name | Facility type | Status | Owners | Parent companies | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eemshaven FSRU (base project) | import[2][3] | operating[4] | EemsEnergyTerminal BV[8] | Nederlandse Gasunie NV; Vopak | EemsEnergyTerminal[8] |
| Hydrogen Import Terminal | import[5][3] | proposed[5][6] | EemsEnergyTerminal BV[8] | Nederlandse Gasunie NV; Vopak | EemsEnergyTerminal[8] |
Table 6: Vessel ownership
| Name | Facility type | Status | Vessel | Vessel owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eemshaven FSRU (base project) | import[2][3] | operating[4] | Eemshaven LNG, Energos Igloo[9] | Energos Infrastructure; Exmar[9][9] |
| Hydrogen Import Terminal | import[5][3] | proposed[5][6] | Eemshaven LNG, Energos Igloo[9] | Energos Infrastructure; Exmar[9][9] |
Background
In March 2022, Belgium's Exmar agreed with Dutch state-owned Gasunie on a five-year charter for a 120 metre long, barge-based floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) which was built in 2017.[10] State-owned Gasunie, working in tandem with the Dutch government, fast-tracked this proposal due to geopolitical and gas supply developments in Europe following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The FSRU, which sails with a Liberian flag, was previously on a 10-year charter with Gunvor for use in Bangladesh, which ended in May 2021.[11] Ulco Vermeulen, a Gasunie director, told the Dutch parliament that the FSRU could be operational by the end of summer 2022. Assuming a five year operating lifetime, Vermeulen said that the project costs would be a maximum of EUR 300 million.[12]
In April 2022, Gasunie announced that it had started the tendering procedure for buyers interested in transporting LNG from Eemshaven into Europe, and that it would take responsibility for connecting Eemshaven to the nationwide gas pipeline network and distributing the gas across the Netherlands. The floating LNG plant would be leaving Singapore in May and was expected to arrive at Eemshaven in early August, according to Gasunie, with buyers able to use the FSRU for accessing LNG as early as winter 2022. The company also raised the possibility of the terminal becoming permanent "at a later stage", and being used for green hydrogen. The facility will operate under the name "EemsEnergyTerminal".[13] The Dutch government also agreed to provide a EUR 160 million state guarantee to support Gasunie's chartering of the FSRU. The company is required to pay the government an annual interest rate of 2.5% in return for the guarantee.[14]
Additional FSRU
In May 2022, Gasunie announced that it had signed a binding contract for the lease of a second FSRU to convert LNG into gas at Eemshaven for the next five years. The FSRU has been leased from the American energy infrastructure company New Fortress Energy and is scheduled to arrive at Eemshaven in August. It is expected to have a storage capacity of approximately 170,000 cubic meters of LNG and a peak regasification capacity of 900 million standard cubic feet per day.[15] Construction officially began on September 8, 2022.[16] The vessel has been renamed and its ownership has restructured under Energos Infrastructure.[9]
Commissioning and Operations
According to Gasunie, both FSRUs were planned to be operational in autumn 2022, and combined they would provide regasification capacity of 8 bcm/y of LNG at the seaport.[17] Gasunie director Ulco Vermeulen said: "This new terminal capacity will increase energy security for the Netherlands and North-West Europe and create additional LNG import capacity to reduce dependence on Russian gas."[18] As of June 2022, Gasunie's website states that the terminal is expected to be operational "as early as autumn 2022."[19]
In July 2022, Gasunie announced that it had contracted 7 bcm of the terminal's overall 8 bcm capacity jointly to Czech energy company ČEZ and Shell Western LNG.[20] ČEZ also secured pipeline capacity from Eemshaven to allow the Czech Republic to import up to 3 bcm/y of, which amounts to roughly one-third of the country's gas consumption.[21] The French energy firm Engie booked the remaining 1 bcm regasification capacity at the terminal.[22] In September 2022, the Eemshaven facility started up when the first LNG shipment arrived on September 8 from the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal in the US. The first regasified LNG is set to flow into Gasunie's grid in mid-September, and the terminal was scheduled to operate at full, 8 bcm/y capacity by the end of November or early December 2022, according to Gasunie.[23] Announcing the commissioning of the terminal on October 12, 2022, Gasunie disclosed that EUR 500 million had been invested in the project.[24]
In January 2024, LNG Prime reported that the facility's ambition was to receive 9 bcm by the end of 2023, and potentially to receive 10 bcm/y in the future through technical optimization of the existing infrastructure including debottlenecking.[25] As of June 2024, Vopak and Gasunie were exploring the possibility of future hydrogen and carbon capture activities at the site, and had begun a market consultation around interest in these services.[26]
Extension of Operations
As of February 2025, Gasunie and Vopak were considering whether to extend the terminal's operations past 2027, when LNG import contracts are scheduled to conclude. The sponsors said they would make a decision by the end of the year.[27]
In October 2025, EemsEnergyTerminal announced a strategic partnership with Belgian shipping group Exmar, part of its preparations to extend operations at Eemshaven beyond September 2027. Under the partnership, the two companies plan to convert a large LNG carrier into a modern FSRU, designed to boost terminal efficiency and integrate seamlessly with the existing Eemshaven LNG unit, which Exmar already operates as part of EemsEnergyTerminal.[28]
In June 2026, EemsEnergyTerminal announced a conditional Final Investment Decision to extend operations at the Eemshaven LNG terminal beyond 2027, covering the period 2028–2036. The decision, taken by shareholders Gasunie and Vopak, was based on newly concluded commercial contracts for that period and a government-committed guarantee, with a significant portion of the offered capacity already booked and the remainder available on a first-come, first-served basis. The extension would raise the terminal's capacity from its current 8 bcm/year to approximately 8.6 bcm/year, covering roughly a quarter of the Netherlands' annual gas demand, and comes with continued government backing aimed at securing long-term energy supply. The final, unconditional investment decision is still pending regulatory permits.[29][30] As part of this extension, Exmar is converting a large LNG carrier into a new FSRU, though it remains unclear whether this new unit is intended to operate alongside the terminal's two existing FSRUs or to replace one of them — Exmar has stated its intention to own and operate both FSRUs going forward, which suggests a possible phase-out of the Energos Igloo (currently owned by Energos Infrastructure), but no source has explicitly confirmed this outcome.[31]
FSRU-based LNG import terminal
Together, we intend to develop a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU)-based LNG import terminal by converting a large LNG carrier into a modern FSRU, designed to enhance terminal efficiency and seamlessly integrate with the existing Eemshaven LNG (red) unit, currently operated by Exmar as part of the EemsEnergyTerminal.
Ownership
The terminal is owned and operated by EemsEnergyTerminal BV.[19] In April 2023, it was announced that Vopak would acquire 50% of the project, with the deal set to be finalized by October 2023.[32] Ultimately the deal was finalize din December.[33] Its first vessel, Eemshaven LNG, is owned by Exmar, and its second vessel, Energos Igloo, is owned by Energos Infrastructure.[34]
Articles and Resources
Additional data
To access additional data, including an interactive map of LNG terminals, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Gas Infrastructure Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 https://splash247.com/exmar-seals-five-year-frsu-charter-with-gasunie/.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 (PDF) https://giignl.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GIIGNL-2024-Annual-Report-1.pdf.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 https://www.reuters.com/article/ukraine-crisis-netherlands-gasunie-idUSL2N2VL0LU.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 https://www.gasunie.nl/en/news/eemsenergyterminal-for-lng-out-of-the-starting-blocks.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 https://www.offshore-energy.biz/dutch-duo-exploring-options-for-lng-hydrogen-and-ccs-at-eemsenergy-terminal/.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 https://www.gasunie.nl/en/news/floating-lng-plant-expected-at-groningens-eemshaven-port-in-early-august.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ Casey, Jessica (September 12, 2022). "EemsEnergyTerminal starts construction phase". LNG Industry. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 https://www.gasunie.nl/en/projects/eemsenergyterminal.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 "GIIGNL 2023 Annual Report" (PDF). GIIGNL. 2023-07-13.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Exmar seals five-year FRSU charter with Gasunie". Splash247. 2022-03-18. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
- ↑ "S1888 IMO". Vessel Finder. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ From now on we will get ‘Gronings’ gas from a ship in the Eemshaven, Pledge Times, Mar. 17, 2022
- ↑ Floating LNG plant expected at Groningen's Eemshaven port in early August, Gasunie press release, Apr. 25, 2022
- ↑ Karolin Schaps, Dutch floating LNG facility gets EUR 160m guarantee, Montel, Apr. 27, 2022
- ↑ Kramer, Brad (May 11, 2022). "New Fortress Energy to Build Floating LNG Import Terminal for Netherlands Company". North American Pipelines. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Casey, Jessica (September 12, 2022). "EemsEnergyTerminal starts construction phase". LNG Industry. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Second floating LNG facility contracted for Eemshaven, Gasunie press release, May 10, 2022
- ↑ NFE and Gasunie Sign FSRU Charter Agreement for LNG Terminal Implementation in the Netherlands, Business Wire, May 10, 2022
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 "EemsEnergyTerminal". Gasunie. Retrieved 2022-06-30.
- ↑ Reducing dependence on Russian gas in the Netherlands, Gasunie press release, Jul. 7, 2022
- ↑ Evelin Szőke, Czech Republic to source 3 bcm of LNG annually through Dutch terminal, CEE Energy News, Jul. 21, 2022
- ↑ Engie books remaining capacity at Dutch Eemshaven LNG import hub, LNG Prime, Aug. 1, 2022
- ↑ Stuart Elliott, Dutch LNG terminal at Eemshaven to reach full capacity by end-Nov or early Dec: Gasunie, S&P Global, Sep. 9, 2022
- ↑ EemsEnergyTerminal for LNG out of the starting blocks, Gasunie press release, Oct. 12, 2022
- ↑ Staff, LNG Prime (2024-01-24). "Eemshaven LNG terminal gets 82nd cargo, plans to start maintenance this week". LNG Prime. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
- ↑ Habibic, Ajsa (2024-06-24). "Dutch duo exploring options for LNG, hydrogen, and CCS at EemsEnergy Terminal". Offshore Energy. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
- ↑ Staff, LNG Prime (2025-02-03). "Gasunie, Vopak to decide on Eemshaven LNG extension later this year". LNG Prime. Retrieved 2025-07-23.
- ↑ "EemsEnergyTerminal partners with Exmar for terminal extension › EemsEnergyTerminal". www.eemsenergyterminal.com. 2025-10-22. Retrieved 2026-07-27.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "EemsEnergyTerminal takes conditional investment decision on extension › EemsEnergyTerminal". www.eemsenergyterminal.com. 2026-06-01. Retrieved 2026-07-27.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "EEMSENERGYTERMINAL extension making steady progress | Exmar". Exmar. 2026-06-01. Retrieved 2026-07-27.
- ↑ "GIIGNL 2026 Annual Report". www.giignl.org. Retrieved 2026-07-27.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Adis Ajdin (2023-04-11). "Vopak buying into Eemshaven LNG terminal - Splash247". Splash247. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
- ↑ GIIGNL. The LNG Industry: GIIGNL Annual Report 2024. Accessed July 21, 2026.
- ↑ GIIGNL. The LNG Industry: GIIGNL Annual Report 2023. Accessed July 21, 2026.
