Polish gas transmission system operator GAZ-SYSTEM announced on Thursday (1 January) that it has selected Japanese transport company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) for the supply and operation of the planned Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) terminal in Gdańsk.
The company will continue discussions regarding the terms of a charter agreement for the FSRU with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines.
“The selection of the supplier of the LNG regasification unit is an important milestone in the implementation of the FSRU Programme, which the Company has been working on for many months. In the near future, we will focus on developing detailed terms of the so-called charter agreement. Time Charter Party,” said Andrzej Kensbok, Vice-President of the Management Board of GAZ-SYSTEM. “Then we must obtain the necessary corporate consents from the Company’s bodies to sign a contract with the shipowner.”
The decision to select this supplier was made on Wednesday (31 January) and is the result of a tender process resolution, which included the signing of agreements (Term Sheets) in November 2023 with two shipowners offering the best conditions for the supply and use of the FSRU unit.
GAZ-SYSTEM selects two potential suppliers for Gdańsk FSRU terminal
“Being selected for this strategically important project for Poland is a great honour for MOL. We commit to close cooperation with GAZ-SYSTEM in the programme to build the first FSRU unit in Poland, which will not only increase Poland’s energy security but also the long-term energy security of the entire region,” said Toshinobu Shinoda, Senior Managing Executive Officer responsible for the Europe and Africa region at Mitsui O.S.K. Lines.
The project envisages the FSRU being stationed at a mooring platform approximately 3 kilometres from the Gdańsk port, between the estuaries of the Vistula’s branches: Śmiała and Martwa. As part of this, necessary subsea and onshore infrastructure would also be constructed.
“This project is also in line with MOL Group’s vision of pursuing social sustainability through the creation of infrastructure businesses and the provision of low-emission energy. We are convinced that the extensive operational and technical experience we have gained over 140 years of activity in the industry, together with our financial potential, will contribute to the efficient implementation of the project and ensure trouble-free, safe and efficient service of GAZ-SYSTEM,” said Mr Shinoda.
Last year, GAZ-SYSTEM completed the process of obtaining administrative decisions for all onshore pipelines. In August 2023, during an Open Season procedure, the full regasification capacity of the FSRU Terminal at 6.1 billion cubic metres (m3) annually was reserved for 15 years.
Poland completes regasification capacity booking for Gdańsk FSRU Terminal
In December 2023, as part of ongoing project work for the subsea section, geotechnical drilling was completed in Gdańsk. These drills will allow for an analysis of the seabed, necessary for identifying the starting point of the subsea gas pipeline and its route.
GAZ-SYSTEM is also exploring the construction market potential before launching tender procedures for subsea infrastructure, the company said in a press release.
