Finnish LNG Ceremony Held
Finnish technology firm Wartsila said September 26 that a ground-breaking ceremony for the new Hamina LNG import terminal in southeast Finland was held on September 25; it was attended by Finland's finance minister Petteri Orpo, local officials and executives from Hamina LNG and Wartsila.
In the first stage, a 30,000 m3 LNG storage tank will be built; a second 20,000 m3 storage tank will be added later; the LNG terminal is planned to become fully operational in 2020. The terminal will be able to regasify LNG for sendout to the existing distribution network, and additionally be able to load LNG onto trucks and later also bunkering barges and small carriers.
Hamina LNG's main shareholders of whom are local Hamina Energy and the Estonian energy company Alexela, but Wartsila - the main contractor - also has a small minority stake too.
Finland's first LNG import terminal at Pori on the country's west coast was opened by Skangas in September 2016. LNG for commissioning was last year delivered to Manga Tornio, the country's second facility in northern Finland (see banner photo above), but full commercial operation is not due until later this year.
Cargoes into these two facilities meant that Finland in 2017 received 0.05mn metric tons (equivalent to 70,000 m3 once regasified), which was up 197% on the 2016 imports.
Photo shows minister Orpo, centre, receiving a document - photo courtesy of Wartsila
(The banner photo shows the completed Tornio LNG terminal, and is also courtesy of Wartsila)