Dubai : The Dubai Supply Authority (Dusup) has completed the commissioning of its new liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal at Jebel Ali Port, supported by Shell, it said yesterday.
The commissioning of the vessel Golar Freeze as a Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) was successfully completed yesterday at its permanent mooring position in Jebel Ali as Shell delivered the Qatar Gas-supplied commissioning cargo to the facility via the LNG tanker Al Bahiya.
The vessel departed yesterday morning after having transferred the first cargo of LNG to the Golar Freeze, a Dusup statement said.
The delivery from the Al Bahiya is the final milestone on the journey towards long-term imports of LNG by Dubai, and follows closely after the completion of the receiving facilities at Jebel Ali and the berthing of the Golar Freeze in early October.
Long-term support
Shell has been supporting Dusup in the development and implementation of this project since 2006. Shell is also the main LNG supplier and will continue to provide technical advice to Dusup until the project reaches a steady operational phase.
The completion of this project will, for the first time, allow a new source of energy to be imported by Dubai to help meet the country's growing energy needs.
Abdullah Abdul Karim, Dusup general manager, said: "Dusup plays a key role in the growth of Dubai. The continuous and secure supply of a clean energy source such as natural gas is important for the development of Dubai and protection of the natural environment.
"Our ability to now import LNG to supplement our existing pipeline supplies is an important step in meeting the growing need for energy. What was most pleasing is that we delivered the project safely and on time."
Mark Carne, Shell's Executive Vice-President for the Middle East and North Africa, added: "Shell is pleased to be supporting Dubai in this innovative project and help it meet peak summer demand in a more sustainable way, reducing emissions and improving local air quality."
Buying and storing of natural gas
- Dusup was founded under Decree No. (2) of 1992 with the authority to buy, store, distribute and sell natural gas within Dubai, including the laying and managing of all natural gas pipelines
- Dusup's major customers are Dewa, Dubal, Dugas, Enoc and Dubai Petroleum.
- n Archirodon Construction (Overseas) Company was awarded the receiving facilities construction project in April 2009, which they completed in October 2010.
- The receiving facility is connected to Dubai's high pressure natural gas pipeline system via a newly constructed 1.4km sub-sea pipeline.
- The "Golar Freeze" has been chartered by Dusup from Golar Freeze UK.
