Page 12 - GLNG Week 10 2021
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GLNG ASIA GLNG
Tokyo Gas launches new
high-pressure gas pipeline
PIPELINES & JAPANESE utility Tokyo Gas has brought a new The company said the infrastructure devel-
TRANSPORT high-pressure natural gas pipeline online that opment was part of its Compass 2030 business
connects the Ibaraki Prefecture cities of Hitachi plan that aimed to ensure stable energy supply
and Kamisu. through co-operation with local governments
The company said on March 11 that the and infrastructure providers.
92.6-km line had commenced service on Although Tokyo Gas has set out plans to ramp
March 1, ahead of the start-up of commer- up its investment in renewable energy solutions
cial operations of a second LNG tank at the over the next decade, the company is still set on
Hitachi LNG terminal on March 10. The tank developing its LNG interests.
has a capacity of 230,000 kilolitres, similar to The utility formed an LNG trading unit – TG
the first. Global Trading – in September 2020 in order to
Tokyo Gas said: “By connecting a loop of expand its LNG trading volume from a zero base
high-pressure gas pipelines and increasing to 5mn tonnes by 2030.
the capacity of LNG tanks in the North Kanto Tokyo Gas announced earlier this week that
area in addition to the Tokyo area, Tokyo it had also formed a carbon neutral LNG buyers’
Gas has achieved improved supply stabil- alliance with 14 other companies, including the
ity and enhanced gas transmission capacity likes of Asahi Group, Isuzu Motors and Sakai
through a mutual backup system of four LNG Chemical Industry. (See: Carbon-neutral LNG
terminals.” picks up momentum, page 4)
The four terminals include Hitachi LNG as Tokyo Gas said on March 9 that the alliance
well as Negishi LNG and Ohgishima LNG in aimed to expand the use of CNL in line with the
Kanagawa Prefecture and Sodegaura LNG in government’s stated goal of achieving net-zero
Chiba Prefecture. carbon emissions by 2050.
EUROPE
Shell charters 10 LNG-fuelled VLCCs
PIPELINES & ROYAL Dutch Shell is set to charter 10 LNG- developing zero-emissions fuels.”
TRANSPORT fuelled very large crude carriers (VLCCs) due to Shell is also a major LNG bunkering provider.
be built by South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding It already has six LNG bunkering vessels in oper-
& Marine Engineering (DSME), the company ation or about to enter service, and aims to dou-
announced on March 11. ble that number by 2025. It estimates that global
Three of the vessels have been chartered LNG bunkering demand will reach around
from Advantage Tankers, three from AET and 3.6mn tonnes by 2023, with 45 bunkering vessels
three from International Seaways (INSW), Shell due to be in operation.
explained. Their main engines and vessel design In its own statement, INSW said it would
will mean these tankers have the lowest possible fund the construction of its three vessels using
methane slip and the highest fuel efficiency. Fuel cash and long-term financing. Its charter deals
consumption will be 20% less versus eco-VLCC with Shell run for seven years, it said.
vessels. INSW, which boasts a fleet of 36 vessels
Shell is looking to have 14 LNG-fuelled tank- including VLCCs, said it was renewing its fleet
ers in service by the end of 2021, with the latest “at very attractive” terms. The vessels will meet
vessel due to be completed by 2023. An average both the International Maritime Organisation
of 50% of Shell’s crude tankers on time charter (IMO)’s existing Energy Efficiency Design Index
will run on dual-fuel LNG engines thanks to the (EEDI) standards and even exceed the 2025
latest deals, it said. Phase III EEDI targets by 8%.
“It is imperative that the shipping sec- “Their significant environmental benefits,
tor immediately employs the cleanest fuels including substantially reducing carbon foot-
available,” Shell’s global head of shipping print, are in keeping with Seaways’ commit-
and maritime, Grahame Henderson, said in ment to [environmental, social and governance
a statement. “Today and for the foreseeable (ESG)] focused corporate citizenship, and we
future, LNG is the choice for newbuilds to are proud to continue to be at the forefront of
ensure we are not adding heavier emitters sustainability initiatives in the maritime sector,”
into the global fleet while we work hard at INSW said.
P12 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 10 12•March•2021
