Isle of Grain terminal launches first UK LNG reload service

British system operator National Grid now offers commercial reload services at its Isle of Grain LNG terminal, following a successful test run in March, a spokesman has told ICIS.

The service will allow liquefied gas stored in the terminal’s 1 million cubic metre storage tanks to be transferred to a tanker to be sent elsewhere. This is the first British terminal to offer this type of service to the market.

ICIS understands a reload on the 160,000 cubic metre (cbm) Yari LNG is planned from the terminal next month. Capacity holder Centrica is expected to provide volumes for the operation, according to market sources.

Six companies currently own capacity at Grain. Algerian state owned Sonatrach, international major BP and utilities Centrica, Eon, Iberdrola and GDF Suez.

The process was trialled with the loading of the 160,000cbm Asia Vision. The cargo was delivered to the Petrobras-controlled floating storage regasification unit in Guanabara Bay near Rio de Janeiro on 20 April, according to ship data.

National Grid is currently holding an open season to assess interest in small-scale LNG reloads. This would require the retrofit of an older existing jetty at the facility.

The Isle of Grain terminal has a fourth phase of development planned, which would add another 190,000cbm tank at the facility. All necessary permits and planning permissions have been acquired by National Grid, which is waiting for sufficient interest from the market before proceeding with the investment.

The terminal is also looking into the potential trans-shipment of LNG, whereby the fuel is transferred from one boat to another via the two jetties at the facility. albert.evans@icis.com and ranjana.kaushal@icis.com