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Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal for Pansio in Turku planned by Gasum
May 22, 2012
Port of Turku and Gasum have signed on 21 May 2012 a letter of intent for the construction of an LNG import terminal in Pansio harbour. If planning and further decisions on the project are completed accord-ing to the anticipated timetable, delivery of LNG from Turku terminal could start already during year 2015. LNG is a clean fuel, which can substitute oil-based fuels used in maritime transport and industry, thus reducing emissions caused by them.
Pansio is a very suitable location for the terminal
According to a technical survey carried out by Gasum, Pansio harbour is well suited for the location of a terminal in Turku area. It is possible to locate the terminal operations in the area, including for example, a storage tank of about 20,000 cubic metres. From Pansio LNG can be transmitted to, for example, the port of Turku by bunker vessels or tank trucks. Besides, it is possible to construct a pipeline network for transmitting LNG in gas form from the terminal to industrial facilities.
The letter of intent signed by Gasum and Port of Turku makes it possible to take the project to the next stage. The city of Turku will start to prepare an alteration of plan for Pansio area, which is a precondition for locating the terminal in the area. Gasum will continue the technical planning of the therminal. The aim is that the terminal could start operating by end of 2015. The investment of the terminal is approximately EUR 60 million.
In the future more and more fuels used by shipping and industry will be LNG. It is of national interest that the Finnish ports will have a network necessary for importing and distributing LNG. Gasum is in the front line buidling the LNG infrastructure and we hope the state will also give an input in its development, says Gasum VP New Ventures Björn Ahlnäs.
LNG reduces emissions from shipping and industry
The Baltic Sea is part of the special emission control area (SECA), which has tighter emission restrictions for sulphur oxides. The highest permitted sulphur concentration in fuel on the Baltic Sea will be 0.1 per cent beginning of 2015. Tighter regulations will set higher demands for the fuels in vessels plying the Baltic Sea area.
LNG meets even the tightest demands for emissions. LNG is practically sulphur free, causing no particle emissions and its nitric oxide emissions are clearly, about 85 per cent, less than emissions of the more conventional heavy fuel used in current engines.
The industry emissions can also be reduced by using LNG as a substitute for oil.
More information
Björn Ahlnäs, VP New Ventures, Gasum, tel. +358 400 403 319
Tommy Mattila, Head of LNG business unit, tel. +358 40 581 9247
Christian Ramberg, Managing Director, Port of Turku, tel. +358 50 5533 100
