EMEA News
Gibraltar Government Decries "Alarmist" Opposition of LNG Bunkering Project
In an ongoing dispute between the Gibraltar government and the Gibraltar Social Democrat (GSD) opposition party, the government has decried the GSD's "alarmist" statements regarding the safety of a proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage and bunkering installation, adding that storing LNG is safer than petrol, local media reports.
The GSD had previously accused the government of combining its LNG plans in with an existing dual-fuel power plant without making thorough safety assessments of LNG storage first.
In response, the government stressed LNG's record of safety, adding that the new LNG storage facility would be relatively small and that more testing was to come.
"They have not understood that gas is used widely around the world and will continue to be used for many years," said the government.
"Moreover, the storage of gas in liquid form at minus 162 deg C is safer than the storage of petrol."
A move towards gas is also a logical choice given that experts forecast that it "will be the fuel of seagoing vessels in the future."
"We have now moved to the next level which includes a more in-depth assessment based on an actual tentative design proposal," the government said.
"Once one of these design proposals is selected then a full assessment under Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) regulations will be under taken."
Last month that the government accused the GSD of sensationalising the risks involved with LNG bunkering.
