EMEA News
Fluxys Gains 25% Share in Belgian LNG Bunkering Vessel
Belgium-based Fluxys has announced that it has signed an agreement with ENGIE, Mitsubishi Corporation (Mitsubishi), and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) to acquire a 25 percent stake in a 5,100 cubic metre (cbm) capacity liquid natural gas (LNG) vessel that is planned to offer LNG bunkering services in the port of Zeebrugge.
The deal is said to be a part of Fluxys' strategy to support small-scale LNG market development.
The vessel, which is currently under construction in South Korea, is said to be set for delivery in the second half of 2016, at which time it will be chartered by ENGIE, Mitsubishi, and NYK Line's joint venture LNG bunkering company.
The first bunkering contracts for the vessel's service are reported to have already been agreed upon, with the vessel planned to load at Fluxys' Zeebrugge LNG terminal once it is in service.
"The vessel will then deliver the LNG by means of ship-to-ship transfer to newly ordered ships by UECC (United European Car Carriers), a Norwegian automobile carrier, which is located in the inner harbour of Zeebrugge," explained Fluxys.
In July, Mitsubishi announced plans to transfer its bunker and fuel oil sales business for industrial customers to its wholly owned subsidiary Mitsubishi Shoji Sekiyu Co., Ltd. (MCS) through "an absorption-type company split."
