Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions with answers about a.o. LNG, the location, are mentioned in the overview below.
Gate terminal
What is an open terminal concept?
Gate terminal is an independent operator. This means that players in the gas market can contract throughput capacity in the terminal. They will do so largely under long-term contracts for substantial volumes of gas each year. Off-takers will be energy companies and also producers that sell their own products.
On what grounds did the European Commission approve the exemption?
Gate terminal satisfied all necessary conditions to be eligible for an exemption. In addition, the European Commission concluded that the exemption was justified in view of the project's risk profile and the business model, based on the separation of infrastructure and gas trading.
What happens at an LNG receiving terminal?
LNG arrives at the terminal by ship, is stored in tanks, warmed (or regasified) and then delivered to the gas transport network. At this point, its use is identical to that of conventional natural gas.
How will it be delivered to the Dutch natural gas network?
The LNG terminal will be connected to the national distribution system by an underground pipeline to Gasunie’s station at Maasmond (less than a kilometer away).
How will the LNG be stored?
The LNG will be stored in specially designed full containment tanks. A full containment tank consists of a metal inner tank and a concrete outer tank. Thermal insulation between the steel inner tank and the concrete outer tank will limit the evaporation of LNG to about 0.07% of the tank’s content per day.
Where will the LNG be sent to?
The gas that is regasified from the LNG will be delivered to the gas transport network and supplied to both domestic and industrial customers in the Netherlands. The proposed LNG terminal on the Maasvlakte will also be an important supply point for the rest of Europe.
Will the terminal have a positive effect on employment?
Obviously a building project as Gate terminal has a positive effect and creates jobs, especially in the construction phase. During the construction phase of three years on average approximately 400 people worked at the site, up to a maximum of 1200. The terminal itself is not very labor intensive, but is operational seven days a week, 24 hours a day and offers job opportunities for high level technical people. When the LNG terminal is in operation, about 35 people will be employed.
Which companies make up the construction consortium?
What will be the role of the minority shareholders and will it compromise the terminal's independence?
Management independence is guaranteed. Gasunie and Vopak together have a large majority interest in Gate and will make the greater part of the investments. The minority shareholders have a financial investment and can make interesting technical contributions. In the long run, though, it is just a financial investment. The minority shareholders will have no say in the terminal's commercial policy nor will they have a say in the access for other customers.
