Gate LNG Terminal

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Gate LNG Terminal is an LNG terminal in South Holland Province, Netherlands. Expansion of the terminal's capacity is proposed.

Location

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Project Details

• Operator: Gate Terminal
• Owner: Gate Terminal B.V.
• Parent: Gasunie (50%), Vopak (50%)
• Location: Maasvlakte, Rotterdam Municipality, South Holland Province, Netherlands
• Coordinates: 51.971111, 4.068889 (exact)
• Capacity: 16 bcm/y, of which 12 bcm/y is firm capacity and 4 bcm/y is interruptible capacity
  • Formerly 12 bcm/y
• Cost: Approximately US$1.1 billion
• Status: Operating
• Type: Import
• Start Year: 2011

Note: mtpa = million tonnes per year; bcfd = billion cubic feet per day

Background

GATE (Gas Access to Europe) LNG Terminal is a liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification terminal in South Holland Province, Netherlands, in the port of Rotterdam.

The project was first being explored as early as August 2005. A final investment decision was taken in December 2007.

The terminal began construction in June 2008 and was brought into service in September 2011; the construction contract was carried out by Techint and SENER. The terminal is jointly owned by Dutch firms Gasunie and Vopak. It cost around US$1.1 billion.

According to Food and Water Europe's 2019 profile on gas use and production in the Netherlands, "It initially had a capacity of 12bcm, but capacities could be extended to 16bcm. However, since its creation, the terminal has never been used at more than 18% of its capacity and at more than 10% since 2012 (potentially due to high LNG prices). Between January 2012 and March 2019, the terminal’s utilization rate lay at only 7%."

According to Gate LNG Terminal's website, the developers have "created up to 4 BCM of interruptible capacity through additional send-out, available to parties already having a position in Gate." This flexible capacity brings the facility's total possible output to 16 bcm/y.

Transshipment of Russian LNG

In late 2017/early 2018, it was reported that the Gate LNG Terminal was positioning itself as a hub for receiving and then sending out LNG from Novatek's Yamal LNG Terminal in Siberia. In December 2017, Gate LNG carried out the first-ever transshipment of a Yamal cargo and additional Yamal transshipments took place in 2018. These first transshipments were performed on a spot price basis, and Gate said it was positioning the facility as a "backup" for long-term Yamal transshipment contracts which had been arranged at the Zeebrugge LNG Terminal in Belgium.

In April 2022, a report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) in April 2022 calculated that €237 million worth of Russian LNG imports had been received at Maasvlakte in Rotterdam in the first two months since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Dutch government also announced a commitment to stop purchases of Russian gas by the end of 2022. The Netherlands has been sourcing approximately 15% of its gas from Russia.

Expansion Project

• Owner: Gate Terminal B.V.
• Parent company: Gasunie, Vopak
• Location: Maasvlakte, Rotterdam Municipality, South Holland Province, Netherlands
• Coordinates: 51.971111, 4.068889 (exact)
• Capacity: 4 bcm/y
  • Formerly, 1.5 bcm/y (designated "Phase 3")*
  • Formerly 2.5 bcm/y (designated "Phase 4")*, and considered 5-8 bcm/y before that
• Cost: €350 million
• Status: Construction
• Type: Import
• FID Status: FID taken
• Start year: 2026
  • Formerly 2024 for "Phase 3"*

*This expansion project was originally described as two separate expansion projects, which were formerly called Phase 3 and Phase 4 on this page.

Note: mtpa = million tonnes per year; bcfd = billion cubic feet per day; bcm/y = billion cubic meters per year

Expansion Background (Originally Designated "Phase 3")

In March of 2019, the Dutch Gate LNG terminal operator formally launched an open season for 2 billion cubic meters (bcm) per year of new send-out capacity, following a winter of record imports of LNG into northwest Europe. The extent of market interest in the new capacity, to be available from 2021-31, could provide an indication of regional buyers’ expectations for LNG demand in the years ahead.

In early 2019, the terminal owners launched an open season on the proposed expansion capacity. While no contracts were signed, they continue to offer the capacity.

In October 2021, Gate Terminal B.V. confirmed that the expansion of the terminal would allow for 1.5 bcm per year additional capacity starting from October 2024.

Expansion Background (Originally Designated "Phase 4")

In March 2022, announcing measures designed to reduce the Netherlands' reliance on Russian gas imports, the Dutch government said it aimed to double the country's total LNG import capacity, including expanding capacity at the Gate terminal by 5 to 8 bcm. Gasunie said that it hoped to announce more details about the additional capacity expansion in "the near future".

As of October 2022, ENTSOG's Ten-Year Network Development Plan stated that the expansion project (Phase 4) would further expand the terminal's capacity by 2.5 bcm/y.

Combined Expansion Background

In August 2023, Gasunie and Vopak took FID on the expansion project, now considered to be a single expansion project, with plans to add a fourth storage tank. The expansion will bring the terminal's capacity to 20 bcm/y and be completed in 2026.