South Hook LNG re-gasification terminal starts

Milford Haven, UK - Total has announced the start up  of the South Hook LNG re-gasification terminal in Milford Haven, Wales. The facility is owned and operated by South Hook LNG, a joint venture between Qatar Petroleum (67.5%), ExxonMobil (24.15%) and Total (8.35%).

With a capacity of 15.6 million tonnes (Mt) per year - making it the largest such facility in Europe - the South Hook Terminal, will receive LNG from the Qatargas 2 Project in Qatar. Total also holds a 16.7% interest in train B of Qatargas 2 which is due to come on stream later in the year.

At a 12 May inauguration, Total CEO Christophe de Margerie said the start-up of the South Hook terminal completes the Qatargas 2 project inaugurated last month. The facility, he added, will further diversify access to natural gas for European consumers.

The South Hook terminal is one element of the wider Qatargas 2 value chain - the first integrated LNG project in the world. Qatargas 2 is a joint venture formed by Qatar Petroleum with ExxonMobil and Total to deliver up to 15.6 Mt per year of LNG. Qatargas 2 comprises three offshore platforms, two 7.8 Mt per year liquefaction trains (onshore), 14 super size ships (8 Q-Flex & 6 Q-Max) and the South Hook terminal.

Total also produces LNG in Indonesia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Nigeria and Norway. Start-ups of Yemen LNG in the middle of this year and Qatargas 2 Train B later in the year will increase its LNG production in 2010 by about 50%. Angola LNG, which is currently under construction, will complement this portfolio in 2012.

New liquefaction projects are being studied for the future, areas including Shtokman in Russia in partnership with Gazprom, Ichthys in Australia as well as new projects in Nigeria.

The group also secured long-term access to LNG re-gasification capacity located in key LNG markets: North America (United States - Sabine Pass and Mexico - Altamira), Europe (France - Fos Cavaou and UK - South Hook Terminal) and Asia (India - Hazira).