Italian FSRU targets LNG shipping demand with expansion

Italy's floating storage re-gasification (FSRU) - Toscana has received approval from Italian authorities to increase regasification capacity.

PHOTO: OLT’s FSRU Toscana with LNG tanker Arctic Discoverer. OLT

With this authorisation, the FSRU Toscana yearly LNG regasification capacity will be increased from the current 3.75 billion cbm to about 5 billion cbm, Italian gas firm OLT Offshore LNG Toscana said.

The expansion will support small LNG carriers to load LNG from the FSRU Toscana Terminal directly, LNG bunkering of ships or to deliver LNG to coastal deports located within the Mediterranean ports.

It will also be able to receive up to "122 small LNG carriers to carry out the small-scale LNG services", OLT says.

The increase of regasification capacity will “not involve plant modifications, but a greater utilization of the existing plant with increased quantities of LNG discharged and regasified.” The additional capacity will be available from next year, OLT says.

The approval was granted by the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security (MASE), in agreement with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MIT) and the Tuscany Region.

FSRU Toscana is located about 22 km (12 nautical miles) off the coast between Livorno and Pisa, Italy.

By Tuhin Roy

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