Displaying items by tag: natural gas

Thursday, 02 May 2013 17:31

GDF SUEZ advances China LNG position

GDF SUEZ signed several significant agreements with Chinese partners in the field of natural gas storage, the provision of liquefied natural gas regasification facilities and the environment.

After the signing of liquefied natural gas (LNG) contracts, GDF SUEZ has for the first time signed an agreement in the field of natural gas storage in China.

The technical service agreement signed with China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC) schedules the assessment of six projects to convert depleted fields into underground natural gas storage facilities, which its subsidiary PetroChina plans to fill with gas in 2013.

The total storage volume is expected to be be 10 billion cubic meters (bcm) – the equivalent of GDF SUEZ’s entire storage capacity in France today.

This initial award follows a year of discussions during which PetroChina met experts from Storengy in both Europe and China. Storengy is a subsidiary of GDF SUEZ dedicated to the underground storage of natural gas.

With its presence and expertise in storage in France, Germany and the United Kingdom, Storengy is looking to expand its activities in China. As such, the 12th five-year plan currently in effect requires the construction of approximately 24 underground storage facilities, with a useful volume of 30 bcm by 2017, compared to 3 bcm today.

GDF SUEZ will also provide China with a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), speeding up the possible reception of LNG in Tianjin. The city is located around hundred kilometers from Beijing and the FSRU will support the region’s growth.

This agreement with the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) schedules the sub-chartering of the GDF SUEZ Cape Ann LNG carrier from October 2013 for a period of up to five years. The FSRU will be permanently moored in Tianjin and will become the first floating LNG import terminal in China.

This delivery follows the signing in 2011 of a cooperation agreement on LNG floating storage and regasification units between GDF SUEZ and CNOOC.

CNOOC is the largest importer of LNG in China. Under a supply agreement reached in 2010, GDF SUEZ is delivering to CNOOC about 2.6 million tonnes of LNG over a four-year period beginning in 2013.

GDF SUEZ has over 50 years’ experience in land-based LNG terminals and built the Mejillones floating terminal in Chile. In 2012, the Group was also selected by the Andhra Pradesh Gas Distribution Corporation as a strategic partner for the development of a proposed floating LNG import terminal on the east coast of India.

Meanwhile, SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT has also signed a cooperative contract with the Beijing Enterprise Environmental Group, a subsidiary of Beijing Enterprises Holdings to establish a joint venture dedicated to developing operations and management of waste facilities in China.

This partnership, through SITA Waste Services, a subsidiary of SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT, will offer comprehensive operating and maintenance services, consisting of waste operations and management, team training, and technical support. It will be integrated into existing facilities as well as new Beijing Enterprises projects.

The agreement extends the GDF SUEZ Group’s partnership with Beijing Enterprises Holdings, established in natural gas supply via Beijing Gas, water supply via Beijing Water and waste via the Beijing Enterprise Environmental Group.


Published in Oil & Gas