Polskie LNG, the operator of Poland’s Świnoujście liquefied natural gas terminal, on Wednesday initiated a tender procedure for the facility’s expansion, Kallanish Energy reports.
The aim is to select a design and build contractor next year, targeting an increase of 50% to the terminal’s current capacity by 2021. Polskie LNG said the facility on the Baltic Sea, the only LNG import terminal in the country, will have its handling capacity expanded to 7.5 billion cubic meters per year (Bcm/y) by 2021.
The scope of work also includes two other projects: construction of a third storage tank and transhipment equipment installation for railways. As part of the expansion, there will also be the need for an additional ship quay (platform for loading vessels), but this project will be tendered separately.
“The LNG terminal is a key investment for Poland, building the LNG market not only in our country, but also in the region. The terminal’s expansion program is the next step that will strengthen our position,” said Polskie LNG’s CEO Paweł Jakubowski.
He added “demand for natural gas in central and eastern Europe and in the area of the Baltic Sea is growing. New functionalities of the terminal will allow us to answer them. We will be the first to offer such a wide range of services.”
State-run energy company PGNiG uses nearly all of the terminal’s current capacity. The company earlier this week announced a new, long-term LNG imports agreement which will see some 2 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of LNG delivered to the terminal for 20 years.