The terminal in Eemshaven, the Netherlands, is operating as planned. It handled 12 LNG ships for the Czech Republic in the first half of the year

Europe's first liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal launched since the start of the war in Ukraine is running at full capacity. During the first six months of this year, it handled 12 ships carrying liquefied natural gas destined for the Czech Republic. The facility can process up to eight billion cubic metres of gas per year, of which three billion are destined for the Czech Republic, a volume equivalent to more than a third of the Czech Republic's annual consumption. In addition to ČEZ, the terminal is also used by the multinational companies Shell and Engie.

“The Eemshaven terminal was the first ever LNG terminal to become operational in Europe after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and significantly contributes to strengthening Czech and European energy security. I am glad that the terminal is fulfilling its purpose and that the LNG tankers can be unloaded quickly. The gas storage facilities in the Czech Republic are now more than 89 percent full, even though no gas is currently flowing to us from Russia,” says Minister of Industry and Trade Jozef Síkela.

The contracts for the supply of LNG to the Eemshaven terminal include a condition that no imported gas comes from Russia. The majority of LNG shipments heading to the Czech Republic were ships from the United States.

In the first half of the year, the terminal handled 12 LNG ships that brought over one billion cubic meters of gas to the Czech Republic, roughly equivalent to 15 percent of Czech annual consumption, which reached 7.5 billion cubic metres last year.

“The terminal was put into operation last year in the record time of only a few months, and we are very satisfied with its operation so far. During this summer, together with our partners, we want to focus on preparing for the next heating season and insuring the security of our supplies. This will include, for example, an alternative source of heat for the winter, with new gas boilers installed as a backup for supplies from the nearby heating plant,” said Daniel Beneš, ČEZ CEO.

The facility, with a total annual capacity of eight billion cubic metres, is located in the port of Eemshaven in the province of Groningen, and consists of two vessels, the Golar Igloo and the Eemshaven LNG, providing LNG storage and gasification. Liquefied natural gas is delivered to the terminal on specially modified tankers. After being heated and converted into a gaseous state at the terminal, it is injected into the transport pipeline system.

The terminal was commissioned on 15 September last year, followed by other LNG terminals at Wilhelmshaven and Brunsbüttel, Germany. ČEZ has purchased capacity at the Dutch terminal for five years until September 2027.

24. 7. 2023