Turkey to become an intersection point for 8 gas pipeline projects
According to Anadolu Agency, Turkey began operations of its second floating liquefied natural gas unit (FSRU) with 20 million cubic meters of send-out capacity per day.
The country aims to reduce its dependency on pipeline gas through FSRUs, so these units are docked at ports close to regions with higher gas consumption, Energy Minister Berat Albayrak said. “We are minimizing investment costs for transmission and distribution lines, as well as transportation costs (with FSRUs),” he added.
Turkey’s first FSRU was launched off the Aliağa district of the western province of İzmir in December 2016, at a time when the country needed extra gas capacity to meet the increased consumption due to the cold weather conditions at that time. That first unit – GDF Suez Neptune FSRU, which the Kolin and Kalyon companies operate, also has 20 million cubic meters of send-out capacity per day.
“The second unit has 263,000 cubic meters of LNG storage capacity. This makes it the largest-capacity LNG storage unit in the world. The unit has around 20 million cubic meters of daily send-out capacity and will contribute a lot to Turkey’s energy security,” the Energy Minister mentioned. “By 2023, Turkey will have increased its 3.5 billion cubic meters of gas storage capacity from the Silivri and Salt Lake (Tuz Gölü) storage facilities to 10 billion cubic meters. Our target is to be able to store at least 20 percent of our annual gas consumption so that we can have more energy security,” he mentioned.
Turkey has already increased its daily send-out capacity from 190 million cubic meters in 2015 to 288 million cubic meters by the end of 2017, Berat Albayrak stated. “This capacity is 20 percent more than Turkey’s highest daily gas consumption of 250 million cubic meters. So ultimately, we will not only be able to meet our gas needs but also be able to export surplus capacity,” he underlined, stressing that a strong gas infrastructure will also make the country more competitive. “In that regard, the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) project will start delivering gas in the middle of this year, while the first gas from TurkStream will come in 2019,” Berat Albayrak affirmed, noting that with these projects Turkey will become “an intersection point for eight natural gas pipeline projects”.
Turkey imports piped gas from Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia and has two land-based LNG-import terminals, Aliağa and Marmara Ereğlisi.
MOL FSRU Challenger
The MOL FSRU Challenger has a LNG storage capacity of 263,000m3 and has LNG re-shipment and gas transfer capabilities. Its specifications allow for the re-export of LNG and supply of LNG to neighbouring regions where the vessel is located. MOL is moving boldly into the LNG secondary transport and LNG fuel supply businesses in Asia and Central and South America regions where it anticipates rising demand for LNG.
FSRUs are drawing attention as a solution for flexibility and mobility in the LNG supply chain. MOL will promote the FSRU business, which meets customer needs for diversified LNG procurement, as one of world’s largest LNG carrier operators, the only Japanese FSRU owner and operator, and the only Japanese shipping company that owns and operate FSRU.
In addition to ownership and operation of the FSRU, MOL announced its decision to participate in an FSRU project in India, reflecting its ongoing strategy to “pursue vertically integrated businesses that are not limited to transportation in the LNG business,” as set forth in its ‘Rolling Plan 2017’ management plan.
Outline of FSRU
Length: 345.00 m
Breadth: 55.00 m
LNG storage capacity: 263,000m3
Regas discharging capacity: 540 MMscfd
Shipyard: Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd. (headquarters: Geoje, Korea)
Flag of registry: Bahamas
