Athens, 1 October 2024 (MIA) - The liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Alexandroupolis, Greece, begins its commercial operations on Oct. 1, providing natural gas to several countries, including North Macedonia, MIA’s Athens correspondent reported.

As stated by Gastrade, the project’s operator company, this is one of the key energy projects at the European, regional, national, and local levels, contributing to energy security and development, diversification of energy sources and supply routes for Southeast and Central Europe, 'further strengthening Greece's role and importance on Europe's modern energy map, making it an energy gateway for over nine countries.'

“The Alexandroupolis LNG Terminal consists, apart from the floating storage regasification unit (FSRU), of a subsea and onshore natural gas pipeline which connects the FSRU to the National Natural Gas Transmission System (“NNGTS”) through which it will deliver natural gas to Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, North Macedonia, Serbia, Moldova and Ukraine in the east, as well as Hungary and Slovakia in the west. The FSRU, named “ALEXANDROUPOLIS” to honour the city and its inhabitants, who embraced this ambitious project from the beginning, has a state-of-the-art technology, with a maximum regasification capacity of 5.5 billion cubic meters per year,” Gastrade said.

Already 14 Greek and international companies are participating commercially in the Project, committing almost all of the Terminal’s capacity until at least 2030. At the same time, the start of commercial operations of the Project marks the enhancement of the Vertical Corridor initiative, significantly strengthening its dynamics, aiming to create a natural gas trading hub in Southeast and Central Europe.

“The implementation of the Project began to materialise when the Final Investment Decision (FID) was taken on January 27, 2022, by Gastrade. Subsequently, onshore and offshore construction work in Alexandroupolis progressed rapidly, while in February 2023 construction of the LNG floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) began in Singapore. The FSRU sailed from the Seatrium shipyard on November 26, 2023, arriving in the waters of the Thracian Sea on December 17, 2023, where it moored in its permanent position.

“With the successful completion of all commissioning tests and the issuance by the Ministry of Energy and Environment of the Operating Permit this past summer, the Project was brought into operational readiness, officially allowing the commencement of its commercial operations,” Gastrade noted.

The project has been co-financed by resources of the European Regional Development Fund of the European Union through the Operational Programme “Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation (EPAnEK)” within the framework of the NSRF 2014-2020.

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In May 2022, a ceremonial event was held in Alexandroupolis to mark the start of the construction of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, attended by the then prime ministers of North Macedonia, Greece, and Bulgaria, as well as the president of Serbia and the president of the European Council.

At the end of March 2021, North Macedonia officially joined the project for the construction of the liquefied natural gas terminal, following the signing of the memoranda of cooperation between AD ESM, AD National Energy Resources and companies from Greece.

The then-Macedonian government stated that “in accordance with the agreement, our country contributes 25 percent to the natural gas power plant in Alexandroupolis, which is 800 megawatts in capacity, with an estimated investment of over 380 million euros.” They also indicated that participation is expected “with 10 percent of the total investment value of 370 million euros for the gas terminal.”

Photo: Gastrade