Polskie LNG makes strategic decision regarding implementation of LNG Terminal Expansion Program
On 19 December 2018, Polskie LNG officially announced the commencement of the tender procedure to select a contractor for three key projects within the President Lech Kaczyński LNG Terminal Expansion Program. These components include construction of the third LNG process storage tank, delivery of additional process installations increasing the regasification capacity, and the LNG transhipment installation together with a railway siding. The overall objective of the said projects is not only to increase Poland's energy security, but also to allow Polskie LNG to offer new services to domestic and foreign customers alike.
The publication of the contract notice officially commences the tender procedure with the view to select the contractor for the expansion of the LNG terminal which involves the delivery of three main components:
Additional regasification installation – increasing the nominal regasification capacity of the terminal to 7.5 billion Nm3/year.
Third LNG process storage tank – increasing the operational flexibility of the LNG terminal installation and ensuring the optimum natural gas process storage capacity.
LNG-to-Rail transhipment installation – extending the range of services provided with the possibility of natural gas transhipment onto ISO containers and rail tankers and thus reaching new prospective customers.
The tender process includes the bidders prequalification stage, negotiations with short-listed bidders and signing the contract with the selected Contractor by the end of 2019. Reaching the target capacity of 7.5 billion Nm3/year is planned in 2021. The other two projects are scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2023. The LNG Terminal Expansion Program is to be implemented under the "design and build" formula.
The expansion program involves also the construction of the fourth component, i.e. the second jetty for loading and unloading of LNG carriers, LNG transhipment and handling LNG bunker vessels and providing bunkering services. The new jetty will be built in cooperation with Szczecin and Świnoujście Seaports Authority under a separate tender procedure, planned to be launched at the turn of this year.
- The President Lech Kaczyński's LNG terminal in Świnoujście is a pivotal investment project for Poland and it is devised to shape the LNG market not only in our country, but also in the entire region. The Terminal Expansion Program is the next step that will strengthen our market position. The demand for natural gas in Central and Eastern Europe and in the Baltic Sea region is constantly growing. New functions of the plant will allow us to respond to that demand and more importantly - we will be the first facility to offer such a broad range of services. We can perceive ourselves as pioneers with full confidence, said Paweł Jakubowski, CEO of Polskie LNG.
Already today, the LNG Terminal in Świnoujście has gained momentum given its present infrastructure. With the processes handled at the facility (unloading LNG from carriers, LNG process storage in tanks, regasification process, natural gas send-out to the National Transmission System, and LNG transhipment ontp tanker trucks and ISO containers), the company can boast success. Only this year (until mid-December) the LNG Terminal has received and unloaded as many as 22 vessels with liquefied natural gas cargo out of the total of 46 vessels handled since the beginning of the facility’s operation. Tanker truck loading statistics are even more impressive. As of today, over 3700 tanker trucks loaded with LNG have departed from Świnoujście.
