Page 12 - GLNG Week 32

GLNG AUstRAlAsiA GLNG
Newcastle plan wins CSSI status in NSW
PoliCy
EPIK’S plan for a oating storage and regasi- cation unit (FSRU), in the Port of Newcastle, New South Wales, has been given critical status by the local government. EPIK announced the a rmation of the importance of its project on August 14.
e Newcastle GasDock plan is intended to provide supplies to consumers in the Hunter Valley and broader NSW region. the NSW government’s decision that it should qualify as critical state signi cant infrastructure (CSSI) is a recognition from the Minister for Planning of the project’s importance. e NSW government put the Port Kembla gas terminal on the CSSI list in June 2018.
Celebrating the CSSI status for Newcas- tle GasDock, EPIK’s founder and managing director, Jee Yoon, said the project’s primary objective was “to deliver the most competitive infrastructure solution for natural gas imports into NSW. With CSSI status in hand, we are a considerable step closer to delivering the criti- cal infrastructure needed to bring new energy to NSW, providing access to long-term, com- petitive gas supply to the region, safely power- ing our homes, driving industry forward and
keeping prices low for everyone to enjoy.” Newcastle GasPort is expected to begin oper- ations in the rst half of 2021. It will require an investment of around AUD250mn ($169mn) in addition to the 170,000 cubic metre FSRU. Previ- ous estimates of the entire project have suggested
a value of $400-430mn.
e statement said the project would be able
to supply more than 80% of the region’s current gas needs. NSW imports around 95% of its gas from other states.
“We look forward to continuing discussions with major gas and power users throughout the state as they seek long-term, competitive solu- tions to their gas supply and power needs,” said EPIK’s executive director, James Markham-Hill.
the Portk Kembla Gas terminal (PKGt) project, in its statement on achieving CSSI status, said it could furnish more than 70% of NSW’s gas needs. e state gave development consent for PKGt in April, with the plan to deliver rst gas to users in late 2020. A second phase of work at PKGt could see an 800-MW gas- red power plant built.
A naming ceremony for PKGt’s 170,000 cubic metre Hoegh Galleon was held in June™
EURoPE
East Med balances pipeline and LNG plans
PiPElinEs & tRAnsPoRt
A ministerial meeting between Greece, Cyprus and Israel – and the US – has endorsed plans for the development of hydrocarbons in the Eastern Mediterranean. Particular support was given to Cyprus’ plans in its exclusive economic zone (EEz), where turkey began drilling a second well last week.
While there has previously been discussion of LNG exports from Cyprus and Israel’s o shore gas resources, this was not mentioned in Greece’s o cial statement. Instead, it noted the support of the three countries for the East Med gas pipeline, which it said was a “project of major signi cance for the energy security of the European Union that also establishes a strategic link between Europe and Israel”.
An intergovernmental agreement was signed on the pipeline in December 2018. It was approved by the European Commission in February. e proposed 2,200-km pipeline has a projected cost of $7bn. It would run, via Greece and Crete, to Otranto, in Italy.
Hosting the meeting was Greek Energy Minister Kostas Hatzidakis. Also attending was the US Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources, Francis Fannon. the three local
ministers and US o cial signed a document in support of the Eastern Mediterranean Energy Corridor, which should help underpin the EU’s energy security.
In comments at the end of the conference, Israeli Minister of Energy and Water Juwal Stein- itz expressed high hopes for the East Med pipe- line, although he went on to note the attraction of Egypt for Israeli gas. “Israeli gas is going to be exported to Egypt in approximately one month’s time from now – plus or minus a few weeks – the rst transmission of Israel’s gas to Egypt will take place and some of it will also be going to Egyptian LNG facilities to be exported through Egypt to Europe”.
His Cypriot counterpart, George Lakkot- rypis, highlighted plans for the East Medi- terranean Gas Corridor. “It is particularly important for us to nd ways of how we can actually monetise this wealth”, the minister said, noting the cash and expertise the US and its companies can bring to bear. “I was very happy to receive the solidarity and full support of my colleagues but also the US for the right of Cyprus to explore and exploit its natural resources.™
BUnkERing:
Greece is working on additional gas use plans. In late July, the Greek Ministry of Environment and Energy approved a project with 3,000 cubic metres of storage in the port of Patras, under the Poseidon Med II programme. This facility is intended to support the use of LNG as a marine bunkering fuel.
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w w w . N E W S B A S E . c o m Week 32
15•August•2019