Its construction and operation Floating Storage and Gasification Station (FSRU) Alexandroupolis will strengthen the strategic role of Greece as an energy hub for the wider region of SE Europe and will offer alternative sources and routes gas supply in the area, enhancing security of supply and energy autonomy, in a time of high challenges. The project will also make Alexandroupolis an energy gateway for the whole region of SE Europe, highlighting the strategic importance of the city and stimulating the local economy and employment.
This is what the company points out Gastrade which is constructing the project, in an announcement after the opening ceremony of its implementation, which took place today in Alexandroupolis, with the participation of the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
The floating storage and gasification unit (FSRU), with a capacity of 153,500 sq.m. LNG, will be connected to the National Natural Gas Transmission System of Greece with a 28 km long pipeline, through which the gasified LNG will be promoted to the markets of Greece, Bulgaria, the wider region (Romania, Serbia, Northern Macedonia etc. .) but also with the prospect of supplying Ukraine as well.
The FSRU Alexandroupolis is expected to operate at the end of 2023, with the contracted gasification capacity already reaching up to 60% of the technical capacity of 5.5 billion sq.m. per year. It is noted that the Independent Natural Gas System (ASFA) of Alexandroupolis has been included and financed by the NSRF Operational Program “Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation 2014-2020” (EPANEK) with the amount of public expenditure amounting to 166.7 million.
It is recalled that Gastrade has also submitted to the Energy Regulatory Authority (RAE) an application for a new license for an independent natural gas system (ASFA), for the project “ASFA Thrace”, which will also consist of a floating storage and gasification unit (FSR). ) and will be developed near the first FSRU in the Thracian Sea, off Alexandroupolis.
The founding shareholder and chairman of the board of Gastrade, Elmina Kopelouzou, noted: “The energy map is changing. We are now entering the final stage of implementation of the FSRU Alexandroupolis, an important and innovative project for the Greek reality. In a period of liquidity in the geopolitical and energy landscape, with this project Greece shows Europe that it can respond with firm strategic steps to the uncertainty of the times and, through development, offer solutions from which everyone can benefit. FSRU Alexandroupolis opens a new energy portal for Greece and Southeastern Europe, which at a critical moment comes to meet an urgent national and European need. “From this critical city that has so embraced our work, we make Greece an energy reference point in the region, contributing to energy security and diversification of supply sources, with benefits for millions of citizens in so many different countries.”
The Vice President and CEO of Gastrade, Konstantinos Sifneos, stressed that “the strategic and economic necessity but also the importance of the project of the LNG station in Alexandroupolis, is more than obvious in the new energy landscape. With this very important project that has brought together the countries living in this neighborhood of Europe, promoting reconciliation, cooperation, solidarity and ultimately peace in the region, we are strengthening regional energy security, energy liquidity, security and the well-being of citizens throughout the region of SE Europe. We would like to thank our shareholders, who are the cornerstones of overall success, as well as a large network of organizations and people who contributed to the launch of the Alexandroupolis LNG station and of course the central government and personally the Prime Minister for the unshakable and substantial project support. Alexandroupolis is the entrance and Bulgaria is the connecting link of the supply chain that this project comes to supply, on the road to Serbia and Romania. The second FSRU, licensed by RAE last Thursday, allows the chain to be further extended to Moldova, Ukraine. “With these two projects, we are contributing to the creation of a real regional energy hub in the region, which will strengthen the economy, security and cooperation.”
For his part, the CEO of Gaslog Cyprus Investments Ltd, Mr. Paolo Enoizi, said: “All of us at GasLog are proud of our participation in the project of the floating liquefied natural gas unit (FSRU) that starts today in Alexandroupolis. The tragedy unfolding in Ukraine at the moment has highlighted the importance of LNG, not only as a fuel that will allow us to move to a world of lower emissions, but also as a major aspect of the energy security plans of many countries. The stable supply of natural gas can only be ensured by such a significant investment in infrastructure, which nowadays has such costs and delivery time, which comparatively shows the foresight of the founders of Gastrade, the Greek government and the various shareholders of the company, in the pre-planning of the specific investment. GasLog, as one of the largest international shipping companies for natural gas has contributed to the overall design of the necessary specifications of FSRU and finally to the final construction, delivering the Alexandroupolis floating station by the end of 2023. The experienced team of GasLog will ensure the operation and maintenance of FSRU for the coming years, through its know-how, providing safe and reliable services to the users of the station “.
The President of DEPA Emporia, Ioannis Papadopoulos, and the CEO, Konstantinos Xifaras, jointly stated that “the Alexandroupolis LNG terminal, being the largest energy project in Greece in recent years, is a strategic investment that will catalyze supply security of our country with natural gas. It upgrades the geopolitical position and the role of Greece, as an energy hub for the Southeastern Mediterranean, as this investment is implemented at a time when the role of LNG in the gas market is already significantly strengthened. By entering the project, DEPA Emporia maintains its leading role in the country, proving in practice that it is the company that leads the energy developments in Greece and Southeastern Europe “.
The executive director of Bulgartransgaz EAD, Vladimir Malinov, noted that “the importance of the Alexandroupolis Independent Natural Gas System as a new energy gateway is crucial for Southeastern Europe. The terminal will provide the necessary additional quantities of natural gas, offering access to producers from all over the world and connectivity with the appropriate supply routes to all interested users in the area. The level of committed capacity and the interest of suppliers and consumers, prove the strategic importance of the terminal and its economic efficiency. Thanks to FSRU Alexandroupolis, Bulgaria, Greece and neighboring countries will be able to benefit from the growing LNG market and the security and competitive prices it provides. Access to alternative gas supplies, from the US, Qatar, Egypt and other countries, will ensure competitive gas prices for the countries. The implementation of the project will strengthen the diversification of natural gas sources and stimulate competition for the benefit of businesses and users, while increasing liquidity through access to LNG, will accelerate the process of carbon removal in the energy sector. I am very happy that we are working together for the success of this project “.
The CEO of DESFA SA, Mrs. Maria Rita Galli, stated: “The FSRU of Alexandroupolis comes to establish Greece as a country with a leading role in regional energy developments, decisively strengthening, in the midst of a difficult international situation, the country’s energy security and of the wider area. The interconnection of this critical infrastructure with the existing and new export routes to Bulgaria and Northern Macedonia, through the DESFA network, will allow the increase of the country’s gas exports to the markets of Southeastern and Central Europe, further establishing Greece. as an energy node. DESFA contributes to the project with the extensive experience and top know-how it has gained from the construction and successful operation of the Revythousa liquefied natural gas recirculation terminal for the last 20 years, remaining faithful to the development of high value-added energy infrastructure. enhance security of supply, contributing to the further diversification of supply sources and the energy transition of the country and the wider region “.
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