BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 1. The Alexandroupolis LNG, a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal with an annual capacity of 5.5 bcm of gas, started commercial operations at the Greek port of Alexandroupolis on Tuesday, Trend reports.
At the Alexandroupolis LNG commissioning ceremony, Maria Rita Galli, General Director of Greek natural gas transportation system operator DESFA, stated that, thanks to this facility, Greece's export capacity will reach 8.5 bcm of gas per year by the beginning of 2025.
The terminal operator, Gastrade, stated that the project "contributes to energy security and the diversification of energy sources and supply routes in Southeastern and Central Europe, strongly enhancing Greece's role and importance on the modern European energy map, as it will become an energy gateway for more than nine countries."
The Alexandroupolis LNG terminal consists of a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), a subsea and onshore pipeline that connects the floating unit to the Greek national natural gas transportation system and further beyond Greece.
"The start of commercial operation of the project marks the expansion of the Vertical Corridor gas initiative, significantly strengthening its momentum to create a natural gas trading center in Central and Southeastern Europe," Gastrade states.
Note that the European Commission contributed 157 million euros to the construction of this terminal.
Bulgaria, Romania, Northern Macedonia, Serbia, Moldova, and Ukraine in the east, and Hungary and Slovakia in the west, will all receive the gas from Alexandroupolis LNG.
The second phase of this terminal with a capacity of 5 bcm per year may be commissioned in 1–1.5 years.
Gastrade's shareholders are DESFA, GasLog, BulgarTransGaz, and Copelouzou.