Doha, Qatar, 20 April 2011: Qatargas, the largest LNG producer in the world, today welcomed the milestone of the arrival of the first Q-Max LNG Carrier “Bu Samra” to the Isle of Grain LNG Receiving Terminal in the UK.
Present today at the Terminal, on the East coast of the UK, to mark this significant milestone, was a Qatargas delegation, the Terminal’s capacity holder Centrica and the Terminal Operator, National Grid.
The Bu Samra, one of Qatargas’ state-of-the art Q-Max LNG carriers, is capable of transporting 266,000 cubic meters of LNG on a single voyage. She is one of the biggest LNG carriers in the world. Qatargas’ fleet of Q-Flex and Q-Max carriers represent a step-change in LNG shipping technology. Not only are they 50 to 80 per cent larger than conventional LNG carriers, they also contain an on-board reliquefaction system to maximise efficiency and LNG deliveries. With approximately 40 per cent lower carbon emissions than conventional carriers, they offer a safe, efficient and reliable means of delivering LNG around the world. A Q-Max can deliver enough LNG on one voyage to the UK to supply 120,000 British households for all their natural gas needs for a year.
Welcoming this milestone Khalid Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chief Executive Officer, Qatargas, said:
“We are pleased to see the first delivery at the Isle of Grain Terminal in the UK of the Q-Max LNG carrier - the Bu Samra. We welcome the Isle of Grain Terminal to the growing family of LNG receiving terminals capable of accepting our largest Q-Max LNG carriers. We commend National Grid on having the foresight to design and build facilities capable of accepting these carriers. The Q-Max carriers play an increasingly important role in ensuring security of supply to the world’s major gas markets. This Isle of Grain delivery is another milestone in QG efforts in diversifying it's portfolio of customers and we are thankful for the continued guidance and support from His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Saleh Al Sada, Minister of Energy and Industry for the state of Qatar in this regard.”
The UK is the world’s third largest consumer of gas and one of the fastest growing for gas imports. In 2010, Qatar supplied the UK with 15 per cent of its total gas demand, and by 2025, LNG will supply around 50 per cent of UK gas needs.
Centrica Energy Managing Director Mark Hanafin also welcomed the arrival of the Q-Max tanker, the world’s largest class of LNG carrier, into the Isle of Grain terminal in the Thames Estuary today, saying:
“Liquefied Natural Gas will play an increasingly important role in helping to meet the UK’s future energy needs, so it’s vital that we have terminals like this that have the capability to receive large carriers such as the Q-Max. Centrica will this week sign a deal with Qatargas to deliver 2.4 million tonnes of LNG every year via the Isle of Grain, enough to meet the needs of around two and a half million UK households.